CHENNAI: Runaway leaders Liverpool will start as the odds-on favourite against Everton on Sunday as the two Merseyside clubs resume their
Premier League campaigns after a three-month hiatus due to the
Coronavirus pandemic.
Manchester City's win over Arsenal on Wednesday night mean that Liverpool will still need two wins from their remaining nine games to end their 30-year wait to be crowned English champions.
Had City lost, Liverpool would have clinched the trophy against their old rivals at Goodison Park on Sunday itself.
The Reds, though, will start as the fan favourite and have the odds in their favour. According to BoyleSports, Ireland's largest independent bookmaker, Liverpool's odds are just 6/10 to win the Merseyside derby, while Everton's are 9/2. If Liverpool, who are 22 points clear of second-placed City, beat Everton, they can wrap up the title with a win against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday.
Liverpool will also be boosted by Mo Salah's fitness. The Egyptian was rumoured to be injured after having missed the team's practice for a few days. But he joined the team's full-fledged training on Friday. Speaking about the Reds' injury situation ahead of Sunday's game, coach Jurgen Klopp insisted that no players have been ruled out at this stage.
All eyes will also be on
Sadio Mane. Using BoyleSports' new data service Opta, stats show that star winger Mane scores 60 percent of his goals with his right foot and has already scored 8 goals this season. By this statistic, the odds are 6/5 for him to score in the match.