Liverpool and Everton lock horns within the 241st Merseyside derby this weekend, with the Reds on the lookout for a 3rd win in eight days to actually kick the season into gear.
Jurgen Klopp‘s males couldn’t have left it later in opposition to Newcastle in midweek, as Fabio Carvalho‘s 98th-minute volley sealed a gritty 2-1 win.
Subsequent up is the quick journey throughout Stanley Park to face an Everton aspect who’re nonetheless with out a Premier League win this season.
Right here’s all you might want to know forward of the early kick off at Goodison Park.
1. Everton winless so far
Everton survived relegation by the pores and skin of their enamel, with some raucous Goodison atmospheres proving key in the long run.
Their 2022/23 league marketing campaign has began in equally uninspiring style, nonetheless, with three attracts and two defeats so far.
Solely a late Demarai Grey equaliser earned them a degree at house to Nottingham Forest earlier within the month, whereas a 2-1 loss at struggling Aston Villa was disappointing, too.
The Blues appear like real relegation candidates on present type.
2. Strain constructing on Lampard
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are two English footballing greats given their success as gamers, however administration goes much less impressively.
The Liverpool legend appears comparatively near getting the sack at Villa, and Lampard arguably needs to be no completely different – he definitely can be if his identify was Rafa Benitez.
Granted, it hasn’t been all unhealthy, however no wins and a few dour soccer imply he’s underneath stress.
A heavy defeat to Liverpool this weekend would actually put Lampard underneath the highlight.
3. Predicted Everton XI
Everton don’t have any recent damage issues, so Lampard will doubtless area an identical beginning lineup to the one which drew 1-1 away to Leeds on Tuesday night time.
Skilled new signings James Tarkowski and Conor Coady will proceed at centre-back, with younger right-back Nathan Patterson developing in opposition to Luis Diaz.
The returning Idrissa Gueye may come straight into the beginning lineup, though a substitutes’ position appears extra doubtless. The identical applies for fellow new arrival James Garner, nevertheless it wouldn’t be a shock to see Neal Maupay begin.
Anthony Gordon is a person in type who will trigger Trent Alexander-Arnold issues on Saturday, and he’s more likely to be joined by Dwight McNeil in assault.
Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Mason Holgate and Andros Townsend are all out.
Predicted Everton XI: Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Coady, Mykolenko; Onana, Davies, Iwobi; McNeil, Gordon, Maupay.
4. Who’s out for Liverpool?
Jordan Henderson is Liverpool’s newest damage absentee, with the captain anticipated to be out for numerous weeks with a hamstring difficulty.
He joins Ibrahima Konate, Thiago, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the therapy desk.
On the plus aspect, Darwin Nunez is accessible once more after finishing his three-match ban, whereas Diogo Jota is “most likely” going to make the squad, in response to Klopp.
5. Attainable Reds lineup
There could possibly be a number of tweaks from the Newcastle sport, with Klopp little doubt cautious of overplaying sure people.
Andy Robertson appears to be like a jaded determine in the meanwhile and will simply make method for Kostas Tsimikas, whereas Joel Matip might are available in for Joe Gomez.
New signing Arthur Melo is unlikely to be concerned because of not receiving worldwide clearance. James Milner is favorite to interchange the injured Henderson.
In assault, Roberto Firmino is anticipated to be retained after a return to type, which means Nunez is used as an influence sub.
Attainable Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Elliott, Milner; Salah, Diaz, Firmino.
6. Klopp proud of Arthur signing
Chatting with the media on Friday, Klopp mentioned new signing Arthur in glowing phrases:
“He’s a extremely good footballer, I feel all of us agree on that. He’s had a really thrilling profession already and he’s nonetheless fairly younger. He’s coming into the most effective age for a footballer.
“He may give rhythm, he’s a extremely good passer of the ball, has velocity with the ball, is secure on the ball, and might demand rhythm, which is fairly vital, actually good in tight areas and all these sorts of issues, so I prefer it rather a lot.
“Why are you able to mortgage a participant like this? As a result of it didn’t work out one hundred pc at Juventus, however I see it as a constructive as a result of the potential is for positive nonetheless there.
“We play clearly a distinct to Juve and all of us thought that might match fairly properly, in order that’s why I’m happy.”
7. Attracts galore at Goodison
Liverpool’s 4-1 win at Goodison final season was very good, however it’s an anomaly of a consequence.
The Reds have discovered it extraordinarily troublesome to win persistently on the house of their native rivals, even within the Klopp period.
In truth, 4 of the final 5 Goodison conferences have resulted in attracts, three of which had been immediately forgettable 0-0 stalemates, in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Final 10 Merseyside derby outcomes at Goodison Park:
2-2
3-3
0-0
1-1
0-1
0-0
0-0
0-0
2-2
1-4We’re not often good there they usually virtually by no means make it straightforward for us.
— Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) September 2, 2022
Wanting futher again, there have been eight attracts within the final 10, additional displaying how a lot type can exit of the window on this fixture.
Everton could also be struggling, however Saturday can be one other actual check of the Reds’ credentials.
8. Did You Know?
Firmino has discovered his contact once more within the last third this season, registering six aim contributions (three objectives, three assists) at a mean of 1 each 50 minutes.
Surprisingly, although, the Brazilian has at all times discovered it powerful in clashes with Everton, by no means scoring in opposition to them in his profession.
That’s a complete of 12 matches, with two assists coming his method in that point.
Saturday can be an ideal alternative for Firmino to finish his Everton hoodoo – god solely is aware of what his celebration can be if he scored a last-minute winner!
9. Manchester-born Taylor in cost
Anthony Taylor is the referee for Saturday’s sport, with the Manchester-born official not precisely universally well-liked on Merseyside.
That being stated, Liverpool didn’t lose any of the 5 league video games he took cost of final season, which included the 5-0 win at Man United and 2-2 draw away to Man Metropolis.
In the meantime, Darren England is on VAR obligation, hopefully avoiding any controversial choices, as was so painfully the case at Goodison again in October 2020.
10. Comply with TIA’s matchday stay weblog
Everton vs. Liverpool is stay on BT Sport 1 from 11.30am (BST). Kickoff is at 12.30pm.
As standard, TIA’s unashamedly biased matchday stay weblog can be operating, with Henry Jackson holding you firm from 11.45am.
Come on you Reds!