After an intense midweek match, Arne Slot might be expected to rotate a few Liverpool players. However, his comments suggest that it won’t be the case against Everton.
For the first time, Liverpool make the short trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium to face Everton on the shore of the Mersey.
As the first derby at their new stadium, there is even more riding on the game than usual as the Blues seek a win in the biggest game of their season.
With the Reds out of the Champions League, the target for the remainder of the campaign is clear: finish in the top five.
Here’s how Liverpool could line up.
Team news
Here are the latest team news updates:
Joe Gomez will not be available for the derby
Hugo Ekitike‘s injury is “devastating” but Slot hopes he will look back on the injury knowing it ‘helped him to become stronger’
Slot doesn’t see Danns as an option at the moment and This Is Anfield understands he will return for pre-season
Liverpool’s XI vs. Everton
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 4, 2026: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Slot hasn’t been known for his rotation at Liverpool, you would usually expect him to make a couple of changes after a big midweek game.
However, his comments on Friday didn’t suggest he sees a need to change things up.
Asked whether the intensity of Wednesday’s match could have an impact on the Everton game, Slot said: “I don’t think it can affect that because there are more than a few days in between and it did not even affect us, the Fulham game affected us by being as intense as we were against Paris Saint-Germain.
“Of course, I have to factor the Anfield factor in because there might be people who think, ‘Why didn’t you play like this away from home?’
“Now that’s a bit more complicated than people might think. The fans play a big part if you want to go as aggressive as we were and taking the risk as we did.
“We took the same risk in Paris but then they were five or six times in front of our goalkeeper and now we could keep them away from our goal in large parts of the game.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 11, 2026: Liverpool's Andy Robertson applauds the supporters after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“So no, being tired has no influence on the game on Sunday.”
With Milos Kerkez having started four of Liverpool’s last five matches, Andy Robertson is in line to play in his final derby along with Mo Salah, who should come into the team due to Ekitike’s absence.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Cody Gakpo play on the left because Florian Wirtz has started the last five games, including four since the international break.
This is how Liverpool would line up:
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Mac Allister, Gakpo; Isak
The big name left out of the above lineup is Wirtz. Of course, there is every chance he will start, however, and it could be in any of three different positions.
He is best suited to the No. 10 role, though that would likely mean one of the midfielders dropping out or Dominik Szoboszlai shifting to right-back in place of Frimpong.
Alternatively, Wirtz could play on the left instead of Gakpo or, alternatively, he could start as a false-nine with Isak on the bench.
Another player with extra incentive in training to get into the starting XI is Curtis Jones. If he doesn’t start, it would be the second derby in a row in which the Reds haven’t had a Liverpudlian in the team.
Jones or Szoboszlai could play at right-back if Frimpong, who has suffered with muscle injuries this season, is rested
Ngumoha may be given the chance to become the youngest scorer in the history of the Merseyside derby
Giorgi Mamardashvili makes his sixth consecutive start with Alisson still out injured
Liverpool have the strongest team on paper, but the form book doesn’t reflect their technical superiority over Everton.
The Blues have won three of their last five matches, whereas Slot’s side have lost four of their last five, albeit against higher-level opponents.
Usually it is Everton to throw their proverbial form out of the window heading into the derby, but this time it is Liverpool who could do with a ‘surprise’ victory.