Liverpool will host Everton in the Merseyside Derby at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, looking to bounce back to winning ways.
Liverpool are coming into the game against Everton on the back of a defeat and a draw in their last two league matches. So, they will be desperate to bounce back strongly in the Merseyside Derby in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.
An impressive start to the Premier League season has been halted by two forgettable results. So, Jurgen Klopp will demand a strong reaction from his players. The Reds are currently fourth in the Premier League table, and they will look to close the gap to leaders Tottenham Hotspur with a win here.
On the other hand, Everton are 16th in the league table, with just two wins from eight league matches. They will look to take advantage of Liverpool’s vulnerabilities in recent outings and grind out a positive result at Anfield.
Everton have picked up just one win over Liverpool in their last six meetings, and this will be a major challenge for them. Liverpool have picked up five wins from their last six meetings with Everton at Anfield, and they will look to grind out another impressive victory at home.
2️⃣4️⃣ hours to go… ⏳#LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/xSSZWCztP4
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 20, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Curtis Jones will miss out on the Merseyside Derby after his dismissal against Tottenham Hotspur. Thiago Alcantara remains sidelined with a groin injury, and he is expected to return later this month.
Diogo Jota is also suspended after seeing red against Tottenham. Meanwhile, star left-back Andrew Robertson picked up a shoulder injury on international duty, and he is likely to be sidelined for at least two months.
Liverpool are set to shape up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with Alisson Becker in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold will start as the right-back, with Kostas Tsimikas on the left. Ibrahima Konate will start in the central defence alongside Virgil van Dijk. Alexander-Arnold and Tsimikas will look to help out in the attack and protect the central defenders here.
In the absence of Jones, Wataru Endo could be handed a start against Everton as the defensive midfielder. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai will add creativity and control on either side of the Japanese international.
Darwin Nunez is expected to lead the line for Liverpool against Everton after an impressive performance against Brazil on international duty. Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz are set to start on the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnols, Konate, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Endo, Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Everton
The visitors will be without Dele Alli, who is ruled out with a groin injury. He is expected to return next week. Seamus Coleman and Andre Gomes will return to action in November. Everton are likely to shape up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal.
Ashley Young and Vitaliy Mykolenko will be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to protect the central defenders and help out during counter-attacking opportunities. Jarrad Branthwaite will start at the heart of the defence alongside James Tarkowski.
James Garner and Amadou Onana will be deployed in the middle of the park. The two players will look to shield the defensive unit by keeping things tight in the middle of the park. Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison will be deployed as the wingers and the two players will look to assist during transitions and cover the full-backs.
Abdoulaye Doucoure will be deployed as the central attacking midfielder on Saturday, and he will look to link the midfield with the attack. Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line for the visitors, with Beto missing out.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Young, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; McNeil, Garner, Onana, Harrison; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin
Key Stats
- Liverpool are undefeated in 27 of their last 28 matches against Everton in all competitions.
- Liverpool are undefeated in 18 of their last 19 matches in the Premier League.
- 15 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- Everton have conceded in five of their last six matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The 31-year-old Egyptian has picked up a goal or an assist in eight of his last ten outings for Liverpool. He managed to score a brace against Brighton & Hove Albion last time out and will look to continue his impressive run of form by getting on the score sheet here.
Salah has produced a number of important performances in the Merseyside Derby since joining Liverpool, and he will be our key player to watch out for.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
Liverpool are certainly the better team on paper here, and they should be able to grind out all three points. They have a formidable record against Everton at Anfield and will be the favourites heading into this contest.
Although they slipped up in the last two matches, they have enough quality to beat the Toffees here. Everton have looked quite vulnerable defensively, and they will struggle against Liverpool’s free-flowing attacking system. A narrow 2-1 home win is on the cards here.
