Mina starts as Rondon gets chance
Joe Thomas: If Yerry Mina is fit, he starts for me.
There is no doubt Everton are the underdogs today but the situation is too precarious to rest players and save them for other games, sacrificing this one. There is quality in this side and today would be a good time for it to be showcased.
Richarlison is Everton's most effective player and he, in my view, is best out wide. It means he can play a role defensively and run at players - as well as potentially exploiting space left by Liverpool's attacking full backs.
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With Dominic Calvert-Lewin out, this leaves no option other than to start Salomon Rondon, who could hopefully build on his successful cameo against Leicester City.
If he could present a challenge to Liverpool's centre backs in the air, Richarlison and Anthony Gordon could potentially feed off some of the loose balls that drop as a result. Rondon will also be useful for set pieces in both boxes - especially if Ibrahima Konate plays.
In central midfield there is a temptation to drop Alex Iwobi and play Abdoulaye Doucore instead. This would be harsh on Iwobi - he has been one of Everton's best players in recent weeks. But I would rather play three in central midfield and try and hustle Liverpool in that area, than play three at the back and allow the hosts to completely dominate the middle third.
(4-5-1): Pickford; Mykolenko, Godfrey, Mina, Coleman; Delph, Allan, Doucoure, Richarlison, Gordon; Rondon.
Midfield flooded with five across the park
Chris Beesley: Everton manager Frank Lampard has admitted he'd take a draw in his first Merseyside Derby and somehow the Blues boss needs to plug the gaps that Liverpool's numerous attacking threats will bring. Rather than introduce a third centre-back which leaves his defenders operating in unfamiliar territory - both those in the middle and the full-backs/wing-backs, I think the best solution would be to try and flood the midfield.
Therefore I'd retain the same back four as the Leicester City game but bring in Abdoulaye Doucoure alongside Allan and Fabian Delph to provide some extra legs in the engine room. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin still out and it unclear when he'll return (Lampard was asked if he'd be back for the Chelsea fixture but tersely replied: "We'll see"), this could be the time for Salomon Rondon to spearhead the attack.
Such a decision would allow Richarlison to cut inside from wide areas and see more of the ball than he might do at centre-forward where he might be isolated in a fixture like this. On the other flank I'd go with Alex Iwobi which would obviously be a blow for local lad Anthony Gordon but the Everton home-grown hero seemed somewhat fatigued at times against the Foxes and might be more potent coming off the bench.
My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Mykolenko, Godfrey, Mina; Allan, Delph, Doucoure, Iwobi, Richarlison; Rondon.
Richarlison leads the line in a 4-3-3
Rich Garnett: Everton’s task against their high-flying neighbours looks like a formidable one, but it is made even harder by absentees such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Donny van de Beek, Andros Townsend and Andre Gomes.
With Jordan Pickford in goal, I’m selecting a back four of Seamus Coleman, Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey and Vitaliy Mykolenko. Frank Lampard hinted in his pre-match press conference that the returning Mina could be rested for this fixture, but if he is fit enough I do not think that the Everton manager can afford such a luxury and will start the Colombian.
Continuity is key for the Blues, if they are to get the results that keep them out of the relegation zone, so I’ve chosen a midfield three of Allan, Fabian Delph and Alex Iwobi.
Calvert-Lewin is a forward who could have caused Liverpool problems with his aerial prowess, but in his continued absence I’m picking Richarlison to spearhead the attack, flanked by the talented Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray. Lampard’s only changes against Leicester were enforced ones and with four points from their last two games I see no reason to make any unnecessary changes in the pursuit of consistency.
My team (4-3-3): Pickford; Coleman, Mykolenko, Godfrey, Mina; Allan, Delph, Iwobi; Gordon, Gray, Richarlison.
