Premier League leaders Liverpool take on Everton in the latest instalment of the Merseyside derby on Saturday, and we’ve got the latest team news and predicted lineups, as well as a prediction alongside our preview.
Everton vs Liverpool Preview
Fresh off the back of an impressive 4-0 win over Wolves in midweek, Everton welcome Premier League leaders Liverpool to Goodison Park for the latest instalment of the Merseyside derby in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Victory over Wolves, courtesy of goals from Ashley Young and Orel Mangala, as well as two Craig Dawson own-goals, ended a five-game winless run for the Toffees. They suffered a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United in the game prior, which followed back-to-back 0-0 draws against West Ham and Brentford.
Sean Dyche’s side are now five points clear of the relegation zone in 15th place, boasting 14 points after 14 matches, and are just six points adrift of the top half.
UTT. ✊ pic.twitter.com/6jkqZvbeem
— Everton (@Everton) December 4, 2024
Liverpool, meanwhile, are 21 points clear of their city-rivals at the summit of the English top-flight table.
It’s been an almost perfect start to life in England for the Reds’ new boss, Arne Slot, as his side are seven points clear of second and third place Chelsea and Arsenal, while they are nine points clear of last year’s champions, Manchester City.
Liverpool have suffered just one defeat in the league thus far this season, against Nottingham Forest in mid-September, and they have since gone unbeaten across all competitions, winning 15 and drawing two.
One of those draws came against Newcastle on Wednesday evening, as they were unable to hold on to their lead and were forced to settle for a point after drawing 3-3, ending their seven-game winning streak in the process.
Last season’s Merseyside derby at Goodison ended 2-0 in favour of Everton, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jarrad Branthwaite scoring, and the reverse fixture threw up an identical scoreline, in favour of Liverpool that time however.
Everton Team News
The hosts are still without Timothy Iroegbunam (foot) and James Garner (lower back), while Youssef Chermiti (fitness) remains doubtful, having not yet featured in a matchday squad this term.
In more positive news, Toffees fans were able to welcome Chelsea loanee Armando Broja to Goodison last time out, with the Albania international making his debut for the club after recovering from an Achilles injury.
Broja is unlikely to lead the line ahead of Calvert-Lewin or Beto, however.
Liverpool Team News
As for the visitors, their injury list is much more extensive, with all of Conor Bradley (thigh), Ibrahima Konate (knee), Alisson (thigh) and Konstantinos Tsimikas (ankle) ruled out.
Diogo Jota (abdominal) and Federico Chiesa (fitness) are also doubts.
Another blow is that Alexis Mac Allister is ineligible to feature, having picked up a one-match suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Everton vs Liverpool Predicted Lineups
Everton Predicted Lineup:
Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Mangala; Ndiaye, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin
Liverpool Predicted Lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Gakpo
Everton vs Liverpool Prediction
Unsurprisingly, we at SportsCasting are backing Liverpool to prevail in this one, and so are the UK’s best football betting sites, who heavily favour the Reds to claim all three points in the derby.
Everton came out on top when the pair last faced off at Goodison, so that’s a factor to consider, but based on this season, Liverpool have been near-perfect and look almost unstoppable at the minute despite a slight stutter in GW14.
We aren’t overthinking this one, and neither should you. Expect the Reds to reign supreme in comfortable fashion.
Prediction: Everton 0-2 Liverpool
