Liverpool visit Everton on Sunday as they finally return to Premier League action – so here’s our predicted lineup for the Merseyside Derby.
Alisson Becker
Alisson is one player with a question mark over his head. Jurgen Klopp did confirm he’s available for the match and, in all honesty, we don’t see much of a risk here. He’ll surely play.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
No reason to believe that Alexander-Arnold won’t start. Always need a Scouser in the team for the derby if you’ve got one.
Joe Gomez
Gomez solidified his position in defence before football stopped and he’ll surely keep it. A player who will likely rotate over the next month, though, as Joel Matip is such solid backup and Gomez has had his injury troubles.
Virgil van Dijk
We’ll see if he continues to play every game with such a hectic schedule coming up. He’s got to be in for the derby, though.
James Milner
Andy Robertson is one of those Klopp mentioned in his press conference. The Scot is available but there’s no need to take any risks here. Especially when you’ve got a player as dependable as Milner in reserve.
Fabinho
The Brazilian wasn’t firing on all cylinders before the break but we’d expect him to play. Quite a big couple month coming up.
Jordan Henderson
The captain will almost certainly play. He’s another, like Gomez, we’d expect to rotate over the next month, however.
Naby Keita
Keita has caught attention while Liverpool have been back training. His showing against Blackburn Rovers, for one, will surely earn him a start.
Sadio Mane
We’re not sure Mohamed Salah will play and that makes Mane a near-certainty as Klopp will want at least one of the two on the pitch.
Divock Origi
As we way, Salah is a doubt. Klopp mentioned him in his press conference and the Echo suggests he may sit out. In that case, Origi’s derby record surely earns him a start.
Roberto Firmino
Much like Mane, if Salah sits it out then Firmino won’t. Saying that, both Firmino and Salah sat out in December and the Reds won 5-2…
Our take
We just don’t see the need to take any risks as Liverpool are playing every few days over the next month. You don’t want to exaggerate any injuries and with the Reds so clear at the top, Klopp can afford to rest stars.
The big question if Salah does sit out, though, is over the system. Klopp went 4-2-3-1 back in December and could do so again. While the XI we’ve named could play 4-3-3 with Mane on the right, Origi on the left and Keita in the middle, there is an option to move around.
Keita can play from the left in a 4-2-3-1 and has done so before. Origi could then play down the middle with Firmino behind – both positions they know well. We’ll play it safe and predict a 4-3-3, though.
Predicted line-up: Everton v Liverpool
Alisson
Alexander-Arnold – Gomez – Van Dijk – Milner
Fabinho
Henderson – Keita
Mane – Firmino – Origi
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