After making a thumping return to the knockout stages of the Champions League earlier this week, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will be pumped off, for one of the most entertaining games of the season this weekend, when Everton travel to Anfield, on MD16 in the Premier League. In what is the first Merseyside derby of the season, 4th placed Liverpool, will look to keep up their pace in the top-4 of the points table.
Everton, currently in the 10th place, have picked up some momentum under new manager Sam Allardyce and will believe that they can get something from this game. However, the Toffees have not been able to win a game at Anfield in this century in the league and this game will not be any different. Here is the predicted lineup Klopp might field for this tie:
Team News:
The Reds are still without the services of defenders Joel Matip and Nathaniel Clyne, who are nursing long-term injuries. Midfielder Marko Grujic recently joined the list but the latest entry is Spanish full-back Alberto Moreno, who was subbed off during the 7-0 drubbing of Spartak, earlier in the week. Adam Lallana is back to full training but Liverpool could miss their talisman Philippe Coutinho, who was absent from training before the game. Mo Salah also skipped Friday’s session but should be fine to start this tie.
Expected lineup (4-4-2):
Defense:
Though Loris Karius is growing in confidence by the game, Klopp has stuck with Simon Mignolet on goal for the domestic league and there is no reason for him to change things up this weekend. With Matip still out, Liverpool will have to stick with the pairing of Ragnar Klavan and Dejan Lovren, who has incidentally been solid at the back in recent games.
Joe Gomez put in yet another solid performance at right-back and centre back in that game against Spartak, he should retain his place at right-back, adding some mettle to the backline. With Moreno out injured, Klopp needs to choose between Milner, who has more assists than any other player in the UCL and Andrew Robertson, who has not put a foot wrong since moving to Anfield. The Scottish ace could keep his place in the side, after a decent outing at the Amex Stadium last weekend.
Midfield:
The manager revealed that his skipper, Jordan Henderson, who was an unused substitute earlier in the week, is a definite starter in this game. He should start as the deepest of the midfielders and should be accompanied by Georginio Wijnaldum as a part of a two-man midfield.
Coutinho could yet make it to the starting XI, but if he misses out, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to start on the left-flank in the midfield. Sadio Mane, who picked up a brace, in the mid-week, should stick to a similar role on the right side of the midfield.
Attack:
Jurgen Klopp has constantly changed his front line in the last few games but went with his strongest side for an important game against Spartak. This game against Everton is equally important, if not more, and this should see Klopp stick with his attack
Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, who scored a goal each in the 7-0 victory, should retain their places in the attack.
Loris Karius, James Milner, Joe Gomez, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, and Daniel Sturridge might all find a place on the bench.
Here is how they might line up:
