Liverpool can guarantee they’ve the ultimate say within the last-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on a night that might see Arne Slot‘s facet open up a nine-point hole on the prime.
Everton vs. Liverpool
Premier League (24) | Goodison Park)February 12, 2025 | 7.30pm (GMT)
There was a whole lot of blended response to Liverpool’s early exit from the FA Cup, with some bemoaning a missed alternative and others welcoming the essential relaxation intervals that await.
It needs to be rapidly forgotten, nevertheless, as one of many hardest assessments on the calendar has now lastly arrived. Right here’s every thing it’s worthwhile to know forward of Wednesday’s 7.30pm kickoff.
1. Trent might return
Trent Alexander-Arnold could possibly be in rivalry to return from his thigh harm, with Arne Slot revealing his vice-captain was concerned in elements of coaching on Monday.
“Trent has carried out elements of coaching periods with us. Not periods, a session yesterday,” he mentioned.
“So let’s see how he’s at this time. He’ll practice hopefully with us once more and we’ve got to determine if we take him to the sport.”
Joe Gomez, in the meantime, has suffered an harm to the identical leg because the hamstring blow that stored him out of the matchday squad for 10 matches earlier this season.
The centre-back remains to be being assessed and, unsurprisingly, he is not going to be out there for this fixture.
2. one hundred and twentieth and closing Goodison Park derby
There have been 119 derbies at Goodison throughout all competitions courting again to 1894, and Wednesday would be the final as the 2 groups can not meet once more exterior the Premier League this season.
Extremely, they’ve every gained 41 occasions towards the opposite at this floor with the remaining 37 video games all ending in a draw – 9 of them have been since 2012!
From Rush scored one, Rush scored two, Rush scored three and Rush scored 4 to winners after 90 minutes – Goodison has seen quite a bit, and let’s hope Slot’s males can bid farewell in fashion!
3. Everton have accidents to contemplate
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja, Dwight McNeil, Seamus Coleman and Youssef Chermiti are all unavailable for Everton.
A return for Vitalii Mykolenko, nevertheless, is anticipated after he missed his facet’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth with a calf harm. He returned to coaching on Tuesday and is prone to be in rivalry.
Jack Harrison might return to their beginning lineup, he hasn’t scored or assisted this season, whereas Beto is anticipated to steer their line to supply a bodily presence towards Liverpool’s centre-backs.
Attainable Everton XI: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto
4. 10 to return to Liverpool’s XI
After making 10 modifications for the FA Cup defeat over the weekend, we will anticipate to see all these ignored make an instantaneous return.
Alexander-Arnold is contact and go to show his health and it might, subsequently, make extra sense to begin a totally match Conor Bradley at right-back.
Luis Diaz could possibly be the one participant to maintain his place, chosen forward of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez – however it might be no shock if Slot opted for the Uruguayan after solely coming off the bench final day trip.
Predicted LFC XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
5. Lastly time to play the ‘recreation in hand’
It appears like we’ve got without end been saying ‘Liverpool are six factors forward on the prime with a recreation in hand’, or ‘Arsenal preserve the hole at six however have performed a recreation extra’.
This match was initially scheduled for December 7 and greater than two months later the time has lastly come to see what buffer the Reds can have after 24 video games performed this season.
Right here’s hoping we’re saying it’s 9 earlier than Arsenal play once more on the weekend at Leicester.
6. Slot is aware of what he can anticipate from Merseyside derby
Talking on the eve of the match, Slot supplied an correct impression of the Merseyside derby forward of his first having watched again the assembly from final season (the much less we speak about that outcome the higher):
“I’ve seen the sport of final season, for instance, and I believe we had been fairly prepared as a result of after 10 minutes the referee blew his whistle 11 occasions, and 10 occasions in favour of Everton.
“The Liverpool gamers had been able to compete, however each time they touched them it was a free-kick!
“I assume our gamers are prepared for an additional battle tomorrow, for the straightforward cause that they’ve been prepared the entire season and lots of of them are skilled.”
7. Moyes again within the Goodison dugout
The postponement of this fixture means as a substitute of going through Sean Dyche’s Everton, we are going to now meet David Moyes’ facet after he returned to the membership for a second time earlier this yr.
Predictably, they’ve had an upturn in kind with three successive league victories following on from a defeat in Moyes’ first recreation again towards Aston Villa.
They had been knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday by the hands of Bournemouth, however might be quite a bit more energizing regardless of their accidents having performed solely seven video games for the reason that flip of the yr – Liverpool have, conversely, performed 11.
8. First of 5 video games in 15 days
Liverpool have an extremely busy schedule till the top of the month, taking part in 5 Premier League video games in simply 15 days – speak about a major interval within the title race!
Slot’s facet will meet Everton (A), Wolves (H), Aston Villa (A), Man Metropolis (A) and Newcastle (H) between February 12 and February 26.
Not less than most are heading into the run as recent as doable, with 12 senior gamers concerned not more than two occasions throughout the final 4 matches – hopefully it pays off.
Time to get extra factors on the board, Liverpool!
9. Michael Oliver with the whistle
Michael Oliver will take cost of the conflict. That is the third time he’ll oversee the Reds this season, following on from the defeat to Nottingham Forest and the draw to Man United.
Hopefully, it’s third time fortunate for a victory underneath his watch!
He might be assisted by Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring, with Tony Harrington performing as fourth official. Chris Kavanagh, in the meantime, is taking over lead VAR duties.
10. How one can comply with the derby with TIA!
Liverpool’s journey throughout Stanley Park might be broadcast reside on TNT Sports activities 1 within the UK, protection will begin at 6.30pm forward of the 7.30pm kickoff – you’ll be able to reside stream with TNT Sports activities right here.
If you’re on the transfer or need biased commentary for the event, then our liveblog is the right selection. Henry Jackson might be retaining you entertained from 6.45pm.
Into these, Reds!!
