Sutton’s Predictions: A Clash with Boxer Molly McCann and the Boo Radleys

Everton clinched their first official Merseyside derby in 1894, a match held at Goodison Park. Now, 129 years later, the 248th derby will take place on Sunday at the club’s newly named Hill Dickinson Stadium. This weekend marks the first time the rivalry will be played at the stadium, adding a new layer to a storied tradition.

Expert Insights and Fan Collaborations

Chris Sutton, a BBC Sport football analyst, highlighted the significance of the derby for both teams. “This is a massive game for both sides, but it’s especially critical for Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot,” he noted. “He needs Champions League qualification next season, so winning this derby is key.”

“I didn’t start playing football until I was 15,” said Molly McCann, a 35-year-old former Everton fan and professional boxer. “It was a fluke, but once I fell into it, I loved it. My ankle injury in 2010 changed everything—football was my first love, but I had to leave it behind.”

Sutton is providing predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, competing against AI, readers, and guest contributors. This week, his focus includes Molly McCann, who will fight Ashleigh Johnson at the M&S Bank Arena on Saturday. The event, broadcast live on DAZN, also features her debut as a Liverpool boxer. McCann’s fight gear is a unique blend of old Everton shirts and memorabilia from past derby clashes, with a personal touch for the club’s legend Neville Southall.

The Spirit of a City

The Boo Radleys, Liverpool’s iconic band formed in Wallasey, are set to release their new album *In Spite Of Everything* on 1 May. Dr Simon ‘Sice’ Rowbottom, the band’s lead vocalist, is also a psychologist and a lifelong Liverpool supporter. “Kenny Dalglish was a titan for us in the 1980s,” he shared. “He was a player and manager who achieved greatness simultaneously, something rare today.”

“We were always a Red family growing up,” Rowbottom explained. “I didn’t think there were many Evertonians until they started turning up at our house. My brother’s first wife and her family were Evertonians, and my sister’s boyfriend too. It was odd—my schoolmates were all Liverpool fans, but I began to see the other side of the city as well.”

Molly McCann, now known as ‘Meatball’ due to her Subway job as an amateur MMA fighter, has found renewed support from Everton. Her collaboration with the club for the fight kit was a tribute to their history, incorporating flags and banners from previous derby days. “There’s something for Big Nev in there,” she added. “He’s one of the best, and I can’t wait for him to see it.”

The Boo Radleys’ legacy includes their 1995 hit *Wake Up Boo*, which reached number nine in the UK charts. After a decade-long hiatus, the band reunited in 2021. Rowbottom, whose family roots are tied to Liverpool football, recalls the fierce rivalry of the past. “Everton were a dominant force under Howard Kendall, and there were matches that mattered deeply, with trophies on the line.”