Liverpool welcome fierce local rivals, Everton to Anfield in a blockbuster Merseyside derby as both teams look to boost their top four bids.
Should Chelsea lose on Saturday lunchtime, Liverpool can go third with victory whereas Everton can move level on points with their neighbours if can snatch a shock win.
Team News
Naby Keita could return for Liverpool after missing their last 12 matches with a muscle injury.
Diogo Jota (knee) is nearing a return but won’t be risked until fully fit, but James Milner (hamstring), Joel Matip (ankle), Fabinho (muscle), Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk (both knee) remain sidelined.
Everton will be without Yerry Mina after the Colombian defender suffered a calf injury during Wednesday’s league defeat at home to Manchester City.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Allan could both return after recovering from hamstring injuries but Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Achilles) remains absent.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 23 meetings against Everton in all competitions (W11, D12).
- Everton have failed to win any of their last 23 trips to Anfield in all competitions (D10, L13).
- Liverpool’s Divock Origi has scored four goals in his last three league appearances at home in the Merseyside derby.
- Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees have scored at least twice in four of their last five away league matches (W3, D1).
- Four of Liverpool’s last five league goals have come from Mohamed Salah.
Prediction
Liverpool are coming into this match in awful home form with no wins in their last five at Anfield and have literally self-destructed in their last two league games from promising positions, which will be a huge defensive worry given Everton’s improved quality.
Everton however have put in two contrasting league performances in the last week despite losing both games, because they were just lacklustre against Fulham on Sunday yet turned out a decent display against Manchester City despite man marking errors costing them eventually. n
This therefore feels like a potential cagey contest because both teams will want to shore up their defensive deficiencies in this Merseyside derby, although I do feel like this is Everton’s to lose with Calvert-Lewin and Allan set to return and boost their attacking prospects.
Anfield though has been the Toffees’ bogey ground this century but without fans present, I feel like this is a huge opportunity which they need to take if want to boost their top four ambition given that Liverpool are currently out of form and vulnerable.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-2 Everton
Result: Liverpool 0-2 Everton