By Cole Gallagher / August 20, 2026
EFL Cup Round 2 · Aug 27, 2026 · Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool · 7:45 PM BST / 2:45 PM ET
⚽ Everton vs Liverpool ⚽
EFL Cup books post lines closer to kickoff. Check back nearer August 27 for a live number.
Everton host Liverpool at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in EFL Cup Round 2, the biggest atmosphere of this round’s entire draw and a genuine Merseyside derby with a straight knockout twist — no replay, no second leg, just one night to settle it. David Moyes and Andoni Iraola both know what a derby defeat means to their supporters, cup competition or not. Here is the full top betting sites breakdown for the tie, part of our ongoing EFL Cup Round 2 coverage.
Odds Comparison
Both Teams to Score
Total Goals
Team Analysis
Everton
David Moyes called this his busiest transfer window as a manager, and marquee loan arrival Jack Grealish gives Everton a genuine game-changer to throw at their fiercest rivals. Everton are still missing both first-choice centre-backs, James Tarkowski and Jarrod Branthwaite, which is a major concern in a derby that rarely lacks intensity, even with Thierno Barry and Carlos Alcaraz’s permanent move adding to the attacking options.
Key Storyline: Jack Grealish’s loan arrival gives Everton a derby weapon, but both starting centre-backs remain out
Liverpool
Andoni Iraola, still early in his tenure after taking over on Merseyside, sends Alexander Isak into the derby spotlight for a home fixture that means as much to Liverpool’s fans as any league game. Liverpool’s attacking depth, with Isak spearheading the line, gives them the individual quality to control a fixture that has swung on moments of brilliance as often as tactical plans.
Key Storyline: Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool, with Alexander Isak leading the line, face their first Merseyside derby test of the season
Key Betting Angles
Everton missing both starting centre-backs against a Liverpool attack spearheaded by Isak is a serious concern defensively, but derbies are notoriously resistant to being decided on paper, and a raucous Hill Dickinson Stadium adds an unpredictable edge. Straight knockout stakes only raise the intensity further in a fixture where goals and cards both tend to arrive at an above-average rate.
We are tracking the full EFL Cup Round 2 slate, plus everything else on the board, over on worldcupbetting.ca.
Our Prediction
Cole’s Pick: Liverpool to win
Everton’s centre-back absences are too significant to ignore against a Liverpool attack led by Isak, even accounting for Grealish’s ability to create moments and the unpredictable nature of derby football. Expect goals at both ends in a game that lives up to the occasion.
Confidence: medium, derbies are volatile by nature and Everton’s missing centre-backs widen the range of outcomes
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Cole Gallagher covers soccer betting for WorldCupBetting.ca, specialising in match predictions, odds analysis and tournament futures. Based in Toronto, he has followed the Canadian men’s national team since their 2022 qualifying campaign and brings a line-shopping, data-first approach to every pick.