EVERTON VS. LIVERPOOL
| Saturday, December 7th |
Premier League | Goodison Park
12:30PM GMT/7:30AM EST
Everton have been a mixed bag this season, with just one win in their last six — though they did flatten Gary O’Neill’s Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out. The Toffees did manage a home draw to Fulham thus far this season, but otherwise have failed to take any points of the top half of the table (and have often struggled against the bottom half as well). They enter the match in 15th on the table, on 14 points and with a -7 goal difference.
Though they have a decent draw in the FA Cup, they were knocked out of the League Cup on penalties against Southampton making this match something of a big event in their season — or bigger than it might have been if they were closer to the drop and had a cup game next month.
While the earliness will affect the atmosphere, the fact that it is the last Goodison Derby does mean that there should be an extra bite (despite the lack of local players in Everton’s squad at the moment).
In terms of injuries, Everton are in a much better place than the Reds. Sean Dyche confirmed his side suffered some knocks mid-week without any serious added injury concerns, and Michael Keane, who is returning from a cruciate injury, is “touch-and-go.” They could be without youngsters lole James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam, and Youssef Chermiti, but their absences likely don’t affect Dyche’s team selection regardless.
Their four goals last time out suggest a willingness to score this season that remains a bit unlike recent years; it’s notable, too, that Dominic Calvert-Lewin did not get on the scoresheet mid-week despite a strong performance — and he has caused some trouble in the past. For the Toffees Dwight McNeil has the most goal involvements in the league, having scored three and assisted three. Surprisingly Ashley Young is in second (one goal and three assists), becoming the league’s fourth-oldest goalscorer on Wednesday (he’s 39 years and 148 days old, if you’re curious).
Annoyingly, Everton won the last Derby in April, making it two in a row against the Reds for the first time since the mid-eighties. This record is something of a stain on the tail end of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, as back in the 1980s Everton were good, while over the last couple of seasons they’ve been more interested in derby matches and avoiding the drop. The Reds haven’t lost two straight Goodison Derbies since a hat trick of losses there between 1992 and 1994.
Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Salah, Díaz; Gakpo
It’s a 12:30, and we know about 12:30s, but thus far this season (and since the beginning of last) Liverpool are unbeaten in the early kick-offs, and since it’s a derby the earliness might benefit the Reds by removing a bit of the bite. The main concern will be complacency and mental tiredness, which we saw some of against Newcastle — though it’s worth saying that a brief one-match drop off after such a mental effort as we saw at the weekend against Manchester City does not necessarily suggest something more ominous. (Liverpool are hard to play against as well, and often in recent seasons we saw a drop off in performances after teams had fought hard against the Reds.)
There’s no point in talking about Newcastle. Some of Liverpool’s strongest performers had very off days. A sample size of one match is not something to make conclusions from. That said, a lot rides on the performance levels this weekend.
More telling on the statistics front is that only one previous Liverpool manager has won his first Merseyside Derby when the fixture came away from home, and that was Kenny Dalglish in September 1985.
As ever, this is a Mohamed Salah statistics game, with the Egyptian looking to score in eight straight Premier League games for his first ever time. Daniel Sturridge is the only player to have done so in this era (predictably in 2013/14).
In terms of personnel, Alexis Mac Allister briefly joins the injury list based on card accumulation, having picked up a late yellow against Newcastle. It’s possible he would have been rotated Saturday anyway so made that choice consciously, but Liverpool have two others flirting with a yellow accumulation ban, with midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and the injured Ibrahima Konaté both on four. It’s well possible that ensuring both Mac Allister and Gravenberch weren’t suspended on the same matchday was something pre-planned (even if Slot had some complaints about the choice in his pre-match press conference).
The injury list is massive at the moment, something left somewhat undiscussed due to Liverpool’s form. While the Reds do have a level of depth in the squad, there is a worry that the accumulation of minutes will have a toll on players at some point. This weekend Arne Slot is likely without Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa — both of whom might return soon-ish? Maybe?? Otherwise the defense remains thin with Konaté, Conor Bradley, Alisson, and Kostas Tsimikas still sidelined.
Slot will choose between Jarrell Quansah and Joe Gomez to pair with Virgil Van Dijk, likely using the other to rotate his fullbacks (both of whom could use minutes managed). Mac Allister’s suspension makes the midfield somewhat easier to select, and Harvey Elliott’s return makes some late rotation a bit easier.
What the Managers Had to Say
Arne Slot: “As a manager, you always lean on your players for your idea and plan but it always depends on the players if they are ready to work hard and play their best. People told me [about it] but I have to know more their style, what we can expect, and we need to be aggressive but in a smart way.”
Sean Dyche: ““A lot of what has impressed me [about Arne Slot] is I don’t think he as made a massive amount of change. You don’t have to radically change everything. They are still operating in a high tempo, effective in different ways and in similar style...It seems like a smooth transition for me.”
The Officials
Referee: Michael Oliver Assistants: Stuart Burt, James Mainwaring Fourth official: Tony Harrington VAR: Chris Kavanagh Assistant VAR: Eddie Smart
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