Hugo Ekitike will replace Alexander Isak in the Liverpool starting lineup against Everton for the Merseyside Derby at Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool will aim to continue a flawless start to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign when they welcome Everton to Anfield for the Merseyside Derby on Saturday afternoon. Arne Slot has received a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Curtis Jones is fit and available after recovering from a minor injury that forced him to miss the last two games. So, Slot has a full-strength squad to take on Everton this weekend after the English midfielder’s return.
However, there are concerns about whether Alexander Isak is fit enough to play multiple games in a week after missing pre-season training due to his transfer saga. During his pre-match press conference, Slot discussed the topic.
The Liverpool manager said, “We had recovery yesterday. Actually, we’re going to train this afternoon, so first of all we have to see how they all feel. What I do know is that Alex did feel his body more maybe than ever before after the 60 minutes he played, so let’s see how he’s recovered today and then we’re going to think about the lineup mainly today, and you will hear it then tomorrow.”
“[Training later on Friday] is all to do with the early kick-off on Saturday, that we give them a little bit of extra time to recover and one of the ways to recover really well is sleep, as we all know. We had to play this week three games, which is something we have to do a lot, but it is not many times that you have to do this in seven days. So, Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday is not a schedule you see a lot. But it is what it is and we play tomorrow 12.30 kick-off.”
Alisson Becker is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Liverpool lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Everton on Saturday. The backline will feature Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Milos Kerkez. So, Jeremie Frimpong will get some rest after recently returning from a hamstring injury.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister in the double pivot. Florian Wirtz will reprise the no. 10 role, with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah being the two wide attackers. Finally, Hugo Ekitike will lead the line for the home side against Everton, with Alexander Isak being a backup option on the bench.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
