A huge night awaits as Goodison Park prepares to host the Merseyside derby for the final time. For Liverpool, there’s even more than local bragging rights on the line.
The Reds finally meet Everton later after December’s game was postponed, with Arne Slot’s side set to go level with their rivals when it comes to games played. If they can pick up another victory, they will go nine points clear of Arsenal in the race for the Premier League title - a lead that could prove crucial heading into the business end of the season.
Of course, Everton will not make things easy for their neighbors, especially with David Moyes back at the helm. Liverpool will have bad memories from their last visit to Goodison Park after seeing last season’s title challenge end there, and Slot will be keen not to fall into the same trap.
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The Liverpool boss will almost certainly change his complete line-up following Sunday’s shock FA Cup defeat at Plymouth, with perhaps one exception. Having played a weakened side against the Championship strugglers, the Reds’ big guns should return this evening.
Having sat out the last two games, Alisson Becker should return in goal, with Caoimhin Kelleher back on the bench. In defense, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson should come back in, with the first question mark arriving at right-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold looks as though he should be fit to return after taking part in training over the past couple of days. With five games over the next couple of weeks though, there is little sense in rushing him back and risking another injury, so Conor Bradley starts for us.
The usual midfield of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister is back, with Dominik Szoboszlai taking up the No.10 role. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo are practically guaranteed their spots on either wing at this point, such has their form been this season.
That just leaves one more decision to be made - who starts up front? With Darwin Nunez not being spotted in training on Saturday, there are doubts over whether he will be involved tonight, having had time off last week in order to attend the birth of his child.
Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota then are probably the frontrunners to start as the No.9, although neither did much to further their cause against Plymouth. Diaz is perhaps in a slightly better position at the moment, especially with the sheer amount of games coming up, so he's the only player who survives from the weekend.
Predicted Liverpool line-up vs Everton: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz.
