Liverpool head to Goodison Park for the final time on Saturday, as Everton look to dent their rivals’ Premier League title hopes.

Everton vs. Liverpool

Premier League (15) | Goodison Park
December 7, 2024 | 12.30pm (GMT)

The Reds may solely draw 3-3 at Newcastle on Wednesday, as they noticed their lead on the high of the Premier League reduce to seven factors.

Subsequent up is the weekend journey to Everton, with a doubtlessly emotional event seeing Goodison host one closing derby except the pair draw one another within the FA Cup.

Right here’s all that you must know forward of an enormous sport for Liverpool.

1. Key gamers nonetheless lacking for Reds

Liverpool picked up no new harm issues towards the Magpies, however necessary gamers are nonetheless absent.

Saturday’s sport will come too quickly for Alisson, however the Brazilian is nearing a return on a regular basis, which is a lift after Caoimhin Kelleher‘s late error at St James’ Park.

Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota are all nonetheless lacking, however the latter is “shut” to being again within the fold.

2. Mac Allister a giant loss by suspension

Liverpool may even be with out Alexis Mac Allister for the journey to Everton.

The World Cup winner picked up his fifth Premier League reserving of the season at Newcastle, which means he should serve a one-match ban.

Mac Allister is suspended for subsequent Tuesday’s journey to Girona within the Champions League, too, affording him a breather within the subsequent couple of matches.

Ryan Gravenberch is just one reserving away from a ban of his personal, whereas Dominik Szoboszlai is on three yellow playing cards within the league for the season.

3. Everton hit type simply earlier than derby conflict

Everton needed to go and discover some type simply earlier than taking part in Liverpool, didn’t they?

The Blues’ gained 4-0 at dwelling to Wolves on Wednesday evening, giving Sean Dyche some much-needed respite, amid doubts over his future.

It has nonetheless been an uninspiring season at Goodison, although, with Everton sitting fifteenth within the desk and solely 5 factors above the relegation zone.

That mentioned, Liverpool may clearly be taking part in their native rivals at a greater time.

4. Potential Liverpool lineup

Liverpool appeared drained at Newcastle, particularly within the first half, so it will likely be fascinating to see what number of adjustments Arne Slot makes.

The Girona sport gives a a lot better alternative to rotate, although.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will certainly return rather than Jarell Quansah at right-back, with Joe Gomez partnering Virgil van Dijk, regardless of a poor evening on Wednesday.

With Mac Allister out, Curtis Jones ought to sit deeper alongside Gravenberch, with Szoboszlai returning to the crew.

Darwin Nunez didn’t provide sufficient in midweek, so Luis Diaz ought to begin at centre ahead.

Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.

5. Predicted Everton XI

The quickfire nature of this week’s fixtures doesn’t make life straightforward for Dyche, however an analogous beginning XI to the facet that thumped Wolves is anticipated.

That might imply 39-year-old Ashley Younger beginning at right-back, which must be an space for Liverpool to focus on.

In the meantime, Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil will present the width in assault, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin main the road.

Chermiti and Armanda Broja are long-term absentees for Everton, whereas Michael Keane is “contact and go” to be match.

Potential Everton XI: Pickford; Younger, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure; Ndiaye, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin.

6. Slot assured about Kelleher’s mindset

Talking in his pre-derby press convention, Slot spoke positively about Kelleher’s psychological state, following his pricey mistake:

“Sadly for Caoimh, within the place he’s in, when you make a mistake or misjudgement, it’s very tough for another person to cowl it up for you.

“He’s carried out that a number of instances for us, if another person makes a mistake he’s all the time there to assist us.

“Sadly, we, as a crew, usually are not capable of assist him if he misjudges a ball as he’s the final participant.

“I believe he’s in place, though he’s upset like all of the others as a result of we dropped factors from a successful scenario one minute earlier than the tip.”

7. Countless attracts in Goodison derbies

It’s straightforward to imagine that Liverpool have dominated this fixture, on account of their dwelling type in it, however they typically discover life robust at Goodison.

Final season’s 2-0 defeat nonetheless stings, and actually, the Reds have solely gained there as soon as of their final seven journeys.

5 of these video games have been attracts, with three 0-0s alongside the way in which.

This highlights what a tough activity Saturday has the potential to be, and why Liverpool must be much better than they have been towards Newcastle.

8. Did You Know?

If Mohamed Salah scores twice on Saturday, he’ll be a part of Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s file scorer towards Everton within the Premier League with 9 targets.

No less than a brace for him would additionally see him develop into the primary Reds participant within the Premier League period to attain no less than twice in three successive away video games.

Salah is now simply two targets away from becoming a member of Billy Liddell in joint-fourth place in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts.

He might be within the Reds’ three finest gamers in historical past at this level, alongside Sir Kenny Dalglish and Gerrard.

9. Derby referee confirmed

Michael Oliver will referee Saturday’s much-anticipated conflict, with the 39-year-old seen by many because the main official within the nation.

Not that everybody thinks that!

Oliver’s solely Liverpool sport of the season to date was the shock 1-0 defeat at dwelling to Nottingham Forest.

Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring are his assistants, Tony Harrington is the fourth official and Chris Kavanagh is within the VAR sales space.

10. Observe the match with TIA

Everton vs. Liverpool is reside on TNT Sports activities 1 from 11am (GMT), with kickoff at 12.30pm.

Harry McMullen is on This Is Anfield matchday reside weblog responsibility from 11.45am, in what might be a nerve-wracking 90 minutes for him to cowl.

An amber extreme wind warning has been issued by the Met Workplace for Merseyside for your entire day, with followers urged to permit for further time and take care if heading to the match.

Come on you Reds!