MY ACCOUNT
There should be some new faces on show at Goodison Park for the 241st Merseyside derby on Saturday with both Everton and Liverpool in need of help in midfield.
The Reds are seeking cover for skipper Jordan Henderson, who became the latest casualty on a long injury list when he went off with a suspected hamstring injury in their 2-1 victory over Newcastle on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp’s team left it late to secure all three points as birthday boy Fabio Carvalho popped up with the winner deep in stoppage time.
It could prove to be a huge goal in terms of the title race as Liverpool attempt to keep pace with champions Manchester City.
Frank Lampard is also desperate for reinforcements as Everton, who were pegged back by Leeds at Elland Road on Tuesday, are yet to secure their first win of the campaign.
The Toffees will be out to improve a wretched derby record that has seen them come out on top only four times since 2000.
Everton vs Liverpool (Saturday, 12:30pm)
Team news
Darwin Nunez is available again after completing his three-match ban for violent conduct, but he may have to settle for a place on the bench as he attempts to work his way back into favour.
Diogo Jota, whom Klopp sounded confident of seeing back soon, has recovered from a hamstring injury and could give the German scope to rotate his strikeforce.
However, Henderson came off with his own hamstring problem after 71 minutes of Wednesday’s win over Newcastle and looks likely to spend some time on the sidelines.
That forced Liverpool’s hand in the transfer market and they hope to complete a deal for Juventus’ Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo, who is fit to feature right away, before Thursday’s deadline.
James Milner is on standby to step in again with Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain still out through injury.
Curtis Jones, who returned from a calf problem to make the bench on Wednesday, is another option while Joel Matip is pushing for inclusion again after overcoming a groin strain.
Defender Ibrahima Konate remains on Liverpool’s lengthy casualty list, but goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has returned to training.
For Everton, striker Neal Maupay looks set to make his debut after recently joining up from Brighton, while Anthony Gordon is an almost certain starter after scoring in consecutive matches.
Lampard is hoping to have two new midfielders to choose from by Saturday morning with James Garner and Idrissa Gueye on the verge of completing moves from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.
In defence, the manager is unlikely to make any changes unless Mason Holgate is back at full fitness and offers him the opportunity to revert back to a three centre-back system.
The stats
Gordon’s goal at Elland Road means he has now scored in consecutive games for the first time in his senior career.
The Toffees did not make a substitution in West Yorkshire — the first time Everton have not made a single change in a Premier League game since a 3-0 defeat at Southampton in December 2014.
A total of 28 players have been sent off in Merseyside derby history — nine from Liverpool and 19 in Everton colours.
But the Brazilian has yet to score against Everton in 12 appearances — the longest he has played against any team without scoring for the Reds.
Prediction
Klopp’s ‘mentality monsters’ did it again in midweek when they came from behind to beat Newcastle with Carvalho’s late show.
The dismal defeat at Old Trafford now firmly behind them, Liverpool cross Stanley Park in much better mood after back-to-back Anfield victories.
They will fancy their chances of overcoming an Everton team that have rarely troubled them in recent seasons, winning only one of the last 29 derbies.
But it could be quite tight and history suggests the draw is the most likely outcome with eight of the last 10 games at Goodison Park finishing all square.
