Liverpool take on Everton in the Premier League in a huge Merseyside Derby at Anfield on Wednesday night after the international break, but both sides have injury concerns
13:00, 31 Mar 2025
Arne Slot
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has a selection headache(Image: AP)
Liverpool are facing a selection headache ahead of the Merseyside Derby against Everton due to injuries.
Arne Slot's team will entertain their rivals at Anfield on Wednesday night, following a 16-day break since their Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle, but the Dutch boss has major problems in one position in particular.
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The international break has provided Liverpool with ample time to reflect on their 2-1 defeat at Wembley and refocus their efforts on securing the Premier League title.
The Reds currently hold a 12-point lead over second-placed Arsenal, with nine games left to play – the first of which is the midweek clash against Everton.
This match comes just 49 days after the last Merseyside Derby, where James Tarkowski scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser for Everton at Goodison Park.
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The international break has been relatively drama-free for Slot, who is expected to have both Alisson Becker and Ryan Gravenberch available, despite them pulling out from their respective national teams.
Alisson suffered a concussion while playing for Brazil against Colombia and was subsequently ruled out of the team's second World Cup qualifier. The goalkeeper has been assessed by Liverpool's medical staff and is expected to be fit to start against Everton.
Gravenberch withdrew from the Netherlands squad due to a minor issue but should also be ready to face Everton. However, Slot does have a problem to solve at right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle) and Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez (both hamstring) all sidelined due to injuries.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been sidelined since the start of March(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Alexander-Arnold was sidelined with an injury during Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on March 11, causing him to miss England's matches against Albania and Latvia. He is expected to make a return later in April.
His absence, along with that of backup Bradley and fellow right-back Gomez, could pave the way for Jarell Quansah to take his place again. Tyler Morton remains the only other Liverpool player out of action.
Meanwhile, Everton manager David Moyes is anxious about left-back Vitalii Mykolenko, who sustained a thigh injury on international duty with Ukraine.
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Moyes provided updates on the conditions of Dwight McNeil, Illiman Ndiaye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. "I don't think we're necessarily going to have any of them back after the [international] break," he declared.
McNeil and Ndiaye are in the running to face Liverpool, having made their return to training. However, Calvert-Lewin remains sidelined with a thigh injury, and midfielder Orel Mangala is out of action due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.