Liverpool return after the international break and this weekend’s Premier League game is a derby against Everton.
The Anfield outfit are fourth on the EPL table, three points behind the league leaders while Everton are 16th with just two wins out of their first eight league matches. The Toffees did win their previous league game before the break but it’s very hard to see them pick up anything when they visit Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Everton are slowly picking up pace but Liverpool are unbeaten in their previous 14 home games and they have scored eight goals in their last four Merseyside derbies while conceding only one. Liverpool’s last defeat against their local rivals came way back in 2021 when Klopp’s side lost 2-0 at Goodison Park.
It is very congested at the top of the table so if the home side cannot pick up a win this weekend, they could end this matchweek out of the top six. Villa and Brighton are just one point behind Liverpool so anything other than a win and both these sides could move above them. Quite surprisingly, the Anfield outfit have failed to win their previous two league matches( a loss vs Spurs and then a draw vs Brighton) but they should be back to winning ways this weekend.
Liverpool’s team news and injuries:
Jurgen Klopp’s side have a tight schedule but almost all these matches are against fairly easy opponents so the manager won’t have to make too many complex selection choices.
However, every injury break is a nightmare for managers and this one was no different because full-back Andy Robertson has picked up a shoulder injury and as per the rumours, he could have sustained a dislocated shoulder.
The extent of the injury is not known yet but there is chatter that the defender might have to undergo surgery and he could be out for around 10 weeks.
Robertson’s injury means Tsimikas is the only fit left-back available for Saturday’s derby so Klopp has no choice but to select him.
Cody Gakpo has been out of action with a knee injury but before the break, the forward was back on his feet so he will be in contention for the derby.
“He is already out of the brace. He walks normally around, so from all the very, very bad opportunities and possibilities injury-wise, I think he nearly got the best but is still injured,” the manager had said.
Gakpo has been seen training with the rest of squad on Thursday which is a positive for the manager but it remains to be seen if he is fit enough to start or not. However, even if Cody Gakpo is back on the bench it will be a huge boost for the Liverpool manager.
Thiago and Bajcetic are both out with injuries and neither of them will be fit to feature this weekend.
Apart from these, Curtis Jones will also miss out due to a suspension which means Ryan Gravenberch is going to feature in midfield alongside Mac Allister and Szoboszlai.
Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez are the two in-form forwards for Liverpool right now so both of them will start while Luis Diaz is going to be the right-sided winger.
Ibrahima Konate will be pushing for a start but he played 90 minutes and 87 minutes respectively for France during the break so Klopp is expected to rely on the pairing of Van Dijk and Joel Matip in central defence.
Liverpool predicted line up vs Everton:
Predicted Starting XI(4-3-3): Alisson; Van Dijk, Trent, Matip, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Mo Salah, Nunez, Luis Diaz.
