Gossip: Beto a target for Torinopublished at 07:47 10 December 2024

Everton's Beto could be heading back to Italy in January, with Torino interested in the striker. (Tuttomercartoweb - in Italian), external
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Everton's Beto could be heading back to Italy in January, with Torino interested in the striker. (Tuttomercartoweb - in Italian), external
Everton fan Mackenzie Kinsella was "shocked" to find out the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park had been cancelled on Saturday morning, after travelling more than 10,000 miles from Australia to watch the Toffees.
The 15-year-old spoke to BBC Radio Merseyside about his trip: "I was a bit shocked to be honest because it is a bit unheard of, games being cancelled like that. I understand why it had to happen, but I was a bit sad. It was one of the main reasons I came out, but I'm still happy.
"I only made the decision to come two weeks ago. It was very last minute! My mum has been to many games and I just wanted to be part of the history - the last Goodison derby is very significant.
"I have heard amazing stories about derbies from my family , who all live over here and have gone, so I really wanted to see what it was like and be part of the history."
After hearing of Kinsella's story, Everton captain Seamus Coleman invited him to the Blues' training ground on Saturday instead. "Amazing news! That is really good," Kinsella said in response.
"I would love to have gone to the game, and I would still like to, but not many people get to go to Finch Farm. It's a great opportunity so I'm really thankful.
"Every cloud has a silver lining. I'm not able to go to the game but I can go to Finch Farm and meet the players - I am made up!"
Planet Premier League pundits Nedum Onuoha and Gilberto Silva discuss their memories of Goodison Park before the final Merseyside league derby at the ground.
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 15 he takes on Dougie Payne, bassist with rock band Travis.
Sutton's prediction: 1-2
Liverpool let victory slip away right at the end of their game at Newcastle on Wednesday, with Caoimhin Kelleher's mistake proving costly.
But he has been excellent for them while Alisson has been out injured and I don't think a draw at St James' Park is a bad result.
Everton come into this game in better form following their win over Wolves, which was a huge result for Toffees boss Sean Dyche after the run they were on.
They can definitely make things difficult for Liverpool, and I suspect they will be fairly direct when they attack, but Arne Slot's side should have too much quality for them.
Payne's prediction: 1-3
At the start of the week I thought Liverpool would absolutely pump Everton, but then Everton put four goals past Wolves. I still think Liverpool will win, but it won't be as simple for them.
From the Don Hutchison disallowed goal to the Luis Suarez dive celebration, BBC Radio Merseyside has looked back on five of the stranger things from previous Merseyside derbies.
Will they bring back memories of joy or rage?
Everton midfielder Orel Mangala says he is "very excited" to play in his first Merseyside derby on Saturday and it is something he has been looking forward to since g on-loan in the summer.
The 26-year-old has played in some "crazy" Bundesliga derbies over the years, but knows how "big" of a game this is given it will also be the last time the two sides meet at Goodison Park.
"I am very excited," he said. "It will be a good game and something that I have been looking forward to since I came in.
"From when I was young I knew it was always a big game. I am looking forward to playing this type of game. That is why we play football.
"I have had some crazy derbies in . This type of atmosphere is very good, I love it, [but it's] definitely a bigger game.
"In a derby you need to play to win the game. It is important for the city and for everybody here around the club, even for us, players and staff. We go on Saturday and give everything to get the three points."
Listen to Mangala's interview with BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds
Sean Dyche speaks about Everton hosting Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby
Everton won 2-0 in their most recent Premier League game against Liverpool in April, and last won consecutive league Merseyside derbies in the 1984-85 season.
Everton boss Sean Dyche spoke to the media about Armando Broja on Thursday.
The on-loan striker made his debut off the bench in Wednesday's win over Wolves.
Everton's Guinea-Bissau striker Beto, 26, and Mali midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, 31, are both wanted by Roma. (Gazzetta dello Sport via Football Italia), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist
Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Liverpool (kick-off 12:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Dyche confirmed that there were a "couple of knocks" from Wednesday's win over Wolves but "nothing serious", while Michael Keane will be "touch and go" as he comes back from minor knee ligament injury.
The Everton boss talked about the "bouncebackability" of the side after their 4-0 win over Wolves, but it is part of the "journey" and the "knock after knock after knock" they often have to deal with.
On the importance of the win with a tough spell of fixtures coming up: "Certainly helpful because a lot of questions have been asked. But we encapsulated that in one performance and knowing their have been signs of that over the past recent run, better signs than the noise, you have to prove it and it is another step forward. We have a pattern of taking steps forward and then moving back, so we have got to keep correcting that and try to go forwards."
He felt Dominic Calvert-Lewin was unlucky not to get on scoresheet against Wolves, adding: "I have said before now you need to be prepared to get hurt to score goals and I think he did that throwing himself in there. I'm pretty sure Craig Dawson would be happy to give those [own goals] away. It was a good performance from Dom and he was getting in the right areas to score goals."
On keeping players hungry to score goals after the team's recent drought: "We have spoken openly about the record of some of the players and past records. History leaves clues and it certainly left clues for our players last night, saying 'look, you can score goals'. No magic to it other than being free."
They will "learn about" Armando Broja the more they see him after he made a "good cameo" on Wednesday: "There is a real desire in him, a chance for him to make a real mark in a big club like this and I think he is hungry for it."
On the final Premier League Merseyside derby at Goodison Park: "It brings our fans to the fore again... I don't have the depth of knowledge for these games, it is for the people and the crowds - if we can win, it is for them and not me."
On Arne Slot's impact at Liverpool: "A lot of what has impressed me is I don't think he as made a massive amount of change. You don't have to radically change everything. They are still operating in a high tempo, effective in different ways and in similar style." He added: "It seems like a smooth transition for me."
Ashley Young started playing football a long time ago. It is a credit to the hard work that he has put in that he is still playing today at 39 years old, because if he wasn't working as hard then he simply would not be playing.
I played in the England Under-21s with him and he is probably the last of our age group to still be playing and especially to be doing it in the Premier League - it's a credit to his adaptability and how he has changed his game over the years that he still is. When I first started playing with him he was a winger but now he is a full-back.
I do not think he has always been given credit but he will now go into the record books because his goal against Wolves makes him the oldest person to score a free-kick in the Premier League!
The most important thing is that he really looks after himself and he still has the drive to win, which is exactly what Sean Dyche needs in this Everton side. Dyche has the option of players in that position who are younger but he knows what he is going to get from Young and that he will deliver.
It is a super physical game in the Premier League, but he is still a solid defender while also being good in attack. So that, paired with his experience, makes for one of Everton's most important players.
I think he will be an inspiration to a lot of people. He is proving that you can still play in your late thirties if you have the right attitude, look after yourself and have the fortune of not getting injured.
I felt proud watching him against Wolves when he was sliding on his knees in celebration. It must be a really, really nice feeling for him too.
Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford
While Saturday's Merseyside derby throws up the usual conflicts between Everton and Liverpool ers, this weekend's edition holds further significance as fans look to come together to combat food poverty in the city.
Saturday's match will be the last Premier League derby at Goodison Park, as Everton's new stadium nears completion, and Katie Carter from fans' group The 1878s spoke to BBC Radio Merseyside on Thursday about how they want to mark the fixture.
"We do the flags at Goodison and we kindly have fans who sponsor our displays," she said.
"We decided we always ask people to donate to us to be able to make the flags happen. We decided, why not give something back? How about we try our utmost to make this the biggest collection that the foodbanks have ever had at a football game?
"It's not about Everton or Liverpool, it's about people in the city coming together as we always do to help those most in need. If every single fan that went to the game, if possible, could bring one tin of food or toiletries, there wouldn't be one hungry kid in this city on Saturday night.
"How good would that make you feel, knowing you have been a part of that and helped the people who most need it">