Liverpool v Everton Preview: Star attacker set to return for the Reds
Liverpool will be desperate for the 3 points after 3 losses in their last 4 league games but come up against city rivals Everton, who are on a managerial bump after their 1-0 win against Arsenal last weekend. What is going to happen in Monday’s Merseyside derby?
Liverpool sit in tenth place in the league and only have this season’s Champions League competition in their sights regarding silverware in 2023. Their next opponents in that tournament are Real Madrid who will visit Anfield on the 21st February hoping to emulate their victory over the Reds in last year’s final.
But before that is the small matter of a Merseyside derby which is precisely the match-up Liverpool need to wake them from their current slumber. Toothless up front with no goals in either of their last three league games, the Reds could welcome back striker Diogo Jota after his resumption of training following a calf injury.
September’s match-up was a goalless draw, and out of touch striker Mo Salah will be happy to see strike partner Jota back in the mix and both will hope to repeat from last season and get goals against the Toffees. Other injury concerns for Jurgen Klopp’s men include Thiago (doubtful with a hip injury) and Fabinho (absent last time out with illness). Joe Gomez is once again likely to partner Joel Matip in the centre of defence.
To read more about Liverpool’s pursuit of this Barcelona winger, click here.
For Everton it will surely be a case of same again from last weekend. Sean Dyche wasted no time in turning around the Blues’ fortunes, channelling a combative team performance and rousing home support into 3 points against league leaders Arsenal.
He goes up against Klopp (who has only lost once in sixteen Merseyside derbies) without a win in his last 3 league games against Liverpool (whilst with Burnley) but with the knowledge that he is adept at getting under Klopp’s skin, with memory of the infamous heated exchange in the tunnel at half time during Burnley’s 1-0 win at Anfield in January 2021.
This time around Dyche will be aiming to drag Everton out of the relegation places with his main injury concern being striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is rated as ‘touch and go’ following a hamstring issue. It’s otherwise likely to be the same 11 who started against the Gunners.
It’s a derby so both sets of players will undoubtedly be ‘up for it’ and each team goes into this one with a point to prove. Liverpool will then head to high-flying Newcastle before switching their attention to the visit of Real Madrid, whilst Everton will be hoping a good performance and result sets them up well for next weekend’s important match-up with fellow strugglers Leeds.