Goodison Park will host the 245th Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.
This fixture will be a poignant occasion, given that it will be the final derby played at Goodison before Everton move to their new stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
Match preview
Everton celebrate on December 4, 2024© Imago
Along with the final home game of the campaign against Southampton in May, no fixture this season will have more emotion attached to it for Everton fans than the final league derby that will be ever staged at the Grand Old Lady.
The blue half of Merseyside will also go into the weekend in much higher spirits after stopping the rot in midweek, ending a five-game winless run and a four-game scoreless streak.
A much-needed 4-0 win over relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers was just what manager Sean Dyche needed following a run of form that had turned much of the fanbase against him, and threatened his future in the job.
Those three points moved them back up to 15th after they were briefly leapfrogged by Crystal Palace and Leicester City, who both won 24 hours earlier, and means the Toffees are now five points clear of trouble, ahead of a treacherous run of games.
After Liverpool, Dyche's men will then travel to Arsenal, host Chelsea a few days before Christmas, and go to Manchester City on Boxing Day, so opening up a healthy gap to the bottom three was absolutely critical.
Everton will be seeking back-to-back league wins for the first time since April, when during that run they beat Liverpool at Goodison.
Their form in derbies suggests that will be a tall order though, considering they have not won two consecutive matches against Liverpool since the 1984-85 season, when they were crowned English champions.
Against the stronger teams in general, Everton have a woeful record, having won just four of the 47 Premier League matches they have played against a side currently top of the standings.
Liverpool in particular are their least-favoured opponents, with just six wins in 54 meetings since 2000, making the visitors the strong favourites here.
The loss in April was a shock for the Reds, and ended their 12-game unbeaten run at Goodison Park, but ahead of Arne Slot's first taste of this fixture, he does not actually have to do much to improve upon Jurgen Klopp's record away to the Blues.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot pictured on November 27, 2024© Imago
Klopp won his first derby at Goodison, but then only managed one more in seven future visits - the 4-1 success in 2021 when the much-maligned Rafael Benitez was in the Everton dugout.
Playing in the 12:30pm slot could be a positive or a hindrance, and even though a lot has been said about the amount of times Liverpool are given early Saturday kickoffs, they are unbeaten in eight when playing at this time - winning six.
Based on the result, a win in such a big fixture will add extra pressure onto the chasing pack, while any more dropped points will give those behind Liverpool added impetus.
More Mohamed Salah excellence was not enough last time out, as Slot's men threw two points away in injury time at Newcastle United on Wednesday, with Caoimhin Kelleher's howler allowing Fabian Schar to equalise for the Magpies in the dying stages of their 3-3 draw.
That was just the third time in 21 games under Slot that Liverpool have failed to win, and after Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all won on the same night, the gap has closed slightly.
There are some warning signs creeping in too, especially defensively despite still having the best record in the division, because Wednesday's trip to St James' Park saw them concede at least two goals in an away game for the fourth fixture in succession.
Everton Premier League form:
Liverpool Premier League form:
Liverpool form (all competitions):
Team News
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring on December 4, 2024© Imago
Armando Broja made his Everton debut in the closing stages of Wednesday's win, and had a positive impact, creating two chances which were ultimately wasted by Jack Harrison.
Broja's return will put extra pressure on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who won back his place in the side from Beto in midweek, and did play a part in the two own goals scored by Craig Dawson.
Youssef Chermiti is still a week or two away from returning to further bolster Everton's attacking options, while midfield pair James Garner and Tim Iroegbuman are also fighting to be fit for the hectic winter schedule.
Defensive duo Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley remain sidelined for Liverpool, and their absence was felt on Wednesday, as Joe Gomez had a difficult night at the back, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold set to return, it could be Jarrell Quansah who is preferred alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Goalkeeper Alisson is also close to making a return, with Slot stating he would not be rushed back given the form of Kelleher, but after Wednesday's glaring error, the Brazilian could be back sooner rather than later.
Alexis Mac Allister will be suspended after being booked at Newcastle, while returns for Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa appear unlikely in a fixture of such intensity.
All eyes will be on Salah once again, after he overtook Erling Haaland on top of the Premier League scoring charts with his two goals in midweek, and he also leapfrogged former Everton man Wayne Rooney for the most PL games with a goal and an assist (37), after setting up Curtis Jones for the first equaliser.
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
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We say: Everton 0-2 Liverpool
Everton's huge win in midweek will make the pre-match atmosphere more positive and optimistic, but their record against Liverpool speaks for itself, with just six wins in 54.
Even when Liverpool were not the well-oiled machine they are now, they would still often get the better of the neighbours, and despite a minor blip on Wednesday, they are still clear favourites for good reason here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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