Liverpool faces a crucial Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday night. Both teams have different motivations for securing a victory in this highly anticipated match. For Liverpool, a win would not only boost their chances of winning the Premier League title but also put them four points ahead of Manchester City. However, if they fail to secure a victory, their dreams of clinching the title would likely come to an end.
Liverpool’s recent 3-1 win against Fulham provided some relief, but there are still concerns about their form heading into this derby. The absence of Diogo Jota due to a hip injury is a significant blow for the team, as he has been one of their most dangerous attackers. Additionally, Conor Bradley is out with an ankle problem, and long-term absentees Joel Matip, Thiago, and Ben Doak are still unavailable.
While Liverpool’s focus is on the title race, Everton is fighting to avoid relegation. The Blues have faced numerous challenges this season, including point deductions and a delayed takeover of the club. However, their recent 2-0 victory against Nottingham Forest has given them hope of staying in the Premier League. They would love nothing more than to damage Liverpool’s title chances and secure vital points in their battle against relegation.
Liverpool’s injury situation has improved, and manager Jurgen Klopp has several key players available for selection. Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Mohamed Salah, and Darwin Nunez could all return to the starting lineup. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been in excellent form, should also start. However, Joe Gomez is an option for either full-back position, and Cody Gakpo has made a strong case for keeping his place in the team.
Everton will be without key players such as Beto, Lewis Dobbin, Dele Alli, Nathan Patterson, and potentially Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is a doubt. However, manager Sean Dyche has not ruled out Calvert-Lewin completely. The possible Everton lineup includes Jordan Pickford, Ashley Young, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure, Jack Harrison, Dwight McNeil, and potentially Calvert-Lewin.
Klopp had high praise for Trent Alexander-Arnold, acknowledging his journey from a talented youngster to a world-class player. The manager believes that Alexander-Arnold’s development has been exceptional and that he will benefit from new influences in the future.
Historically, Liverpool has struggled to secure victories at Goodison Park, with many matches ending in draws. In fact, Liverpool has drawn 13 times at Goodison in the Premier League, the most away to any club since 1992. Klopp’s team cannot afford another draw this time around if they want to keep their title hopes alive.
If Liverpool wins this derby, it will mark their 100th victory over Everton in all competitions. Additionally, if Mohamed Salah scores twice, he will equal Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s top scorer against Everton in the Premier League with nine goals. Liverpool also holds an impressive record of scoring in their last 20 top-flight away fixtures.
The referee for the match will be Andy Madley, who has officiated four Liverpool league games this season. David Coote will be in charge of VAR, and Simon Hooper will serve as the fourth official.
Fans can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and follow a live blog on TIA for updates and analysis from Henry Jackson.