Liverpool will travel across Stanley Park to take on Everton at Goodison Park looking to consolidate their place in the top four. The Reds secured an emphatic 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the first-leg of their Champions League quarterfinal clash on Wednesday night and are currently flying high at the moment. However, there are still concerns over the injuries to some of their key personnel which include Mohamed Salah, after the Egyptian sustained a groin injury versus City, and Emre Can, who is in a race against time to be fit for this clash.
Meanwhile, the Toffees were comfortably beaten by City with a 3-1 scoreline at home in their last league outing. Sam Allardyce’s team will look to bounce back against their local rivals in what is set to be an entertaining Merseyside derby on Saturday. The recent history of the fixture makes a grim reading for the Blues of Merseyside as they have not won in their 16 encounters with the Reds, losing 8 of those matches.
Team News
Everton
Idrissa Gueye could be ruled out of this clash after he suffered a muscle tear injury but Ashley Williams is set to return from his suspension. Allardyce will be without the services of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Eliaquim Mangala, Mason Holgate and James McCarthy, who will all miss the derby this weekend.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp will be sweating on the fitness of Salah but he could still be in line to start against the Toffees. However, Klopp will be without the services of Emre Can, Joel Matip, Adam Lallana, Joe Gomez and Ragnar Klavan as they are all sidelined because of injuries.
Predicted Lineups
Everton
Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Williams, Baines, Schneiderlin, Walcott, Rooney, Calvert-Lewin, Bolasie, Tosun
Liverpool
Karius, Clyne, van Dijk, Lovren, Moreno, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ings, Mane
Key Men
Everton
Cenk Tosun has been in red-hot form for the Toffees over the last few weeks and will once again be an integral member of the home side up top. Wayne Rooney will also be tasked to create chances for his teammates from midfield. However, a lot will rest on the shoulders of Michael Keane and Ashley Williams as they will be responsible to keep the fluid Liverpool attackers at bay.
Liverpool
The performance of van Dijk and Lovren will be key if the Reds are to come away with maximum points from Goodison Park. Danny Ings could be in line to make a start alongside Sadio Mane so it will be up to them to score the goals on the day.
Everton win: 16/5
Draw: 11/4
Liverpool win: 10/11
