Match Preview: Everton vs. Liverpool – Prediction, Lineups, and Team News

Goodison Park will host the 245th Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool in the Premier League this Saturday.

This match will carry significant emotional weight, marking the final derby to be held at Goodison before Everton moves to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.

Match preview
For Everton supporters, this game will be one of the most emotional of the season, second only to the final home match against Southampton in May. The significance of this derby as the last to be played at the iconic Goodison Park adds to the atmosphere.

Everton fans will head into the match in higher spirits after snapping a five-game winless streak and a four-game scoreless run with a vital 4-0 victory over relegation contenders Wolverhampton Wanderers. The win came at a crucial time for manager Sean Dyche, whose job had been under threat due to a run of poor form that had frustrated much of the fanbase.

The victory lifted Everton to 15th place, briefly overtaking Crystal Palace and Leicester City, who won the previous day, and now they are five points clear of the relegation zone, a vital cushion ahead of a challenging stretch of matches.

After facing Liverpool, Dyche’s side will travel to Arsenal, host Chelsea just before Christmas, and face Manchester City on Boxing Day. Thus, securing the three points was vital for avoiding a dangerous run of fixtures.

Everton will be aiming for back-to-back league wins for the first time since April when they defeated Liverpool at Goodison. However, their recent derby record suggests this might be a tough task. They have not won consecutive derbies against Liverpool since the 1984-85 season, when they were crowned champions of England.

In fact, Everton’s overall record against the top teams is poor, with just four wins in 47 Premier League matches against sides currently top of the table. Liverpool, in particular, have been their toughest opponents, with only six victories in 54 meetings since 2000, making the visitors the clear favorites for this match.

Liverpool’s shock loss at Goodison Park in April ended their 12-game unbeaten streak there, but new manager Arne Slot has little to improve upon Jurgen Klopp’s record at the venue. Klopp won his first derby at Goodison but only managed one more win in his next seven visits, with a 4-1 victory in 2021 when Rafael Benitez was in charge at Everton.

The 12:30pm kickoff could be either an advantage or a challenge for Liverpool. Despite much discussion about their frequent early Saturday games, they are unbeaten in their last eight such matches, winning six.

A win in this crucial match would increase pressure on the teams chasing Liverpool, while any further dropped points would provide more motivation for their rivals.

Although Mohamed Salah’s brilliance wasn’t enough in the 3-3 draw at Newcastle on Wednesday, it remains clear that Liverpool is still performing at a high level despite slipping up. It was only their third draw in 21 games under Slot, and with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City all winning on the same night, the gap between Liverpool and their rivals has closed slightly. However, defensive issues have crept in, as the team conceded two or more goals in four consecutive away games.

Team News

Armando Broja made his debut for Everton during Wednesday’s win and had a positive impact, setting up two chances for Jack Harrison. His return puts pressure on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who regained his place from Beto in midweek and contributed to two own goals scored by Craig Dawson. Youssef Chermiti is still a week or two away from full fitness, while midfielders James Garner and Tim Iroegbuman are also working to be fit for the busy winter schedule.

For Liverpool, defensive duo Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley remain sidelined, and their absence was felt during the game against Newcastle, where Joe Gomez struggled defensively. Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to return, and it is likely that Jarrell Quansah will partner Virgil van Dijk at the back. Goalkeeper Alisson is nearing a return, although Slot has stated that he won’t be rushed back, given Caoimhin Kelleher’s form, though the Brazilian could return sooner following Kelleher’s error in the Newcastle game.

Alexis Mac Allister is suspended after his booking at Newcastle, and Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are unlikely to feature in such an intense match.

All eyes will be on Salah once again, as he recently overtook Erling Haaland at the top of the Premier League goal-scoring charts with two goals in midweek. He also surpassed Wayne Rooney for the most Premier League games with both a goal and an assist (37), after setting up Curtis Jones for the equalizer.

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Ndiaye, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Prediction: Everton 0-2 Liverpool
Everton’s midweek victory will provide a more optimistic atmosphere leading into the match, but their poor record against Liverpool cannot be ignored, with just six wins in 54 meetings. Even when Liverpool were not at their best, they still often bested their Merseyside rivals. Despite a slight setback on Wednesday, Liverpool remains the overwhelming favorite for this derby.