Szoboszlai Key as Liverpool Take on Everton at Goodison | OneFootball

Everton vs Liverpool: Merseyside Derby Preview

Date – 12th February 2025

Venue – Goodison Park

Kick-off – 20.00

After a weekend loss against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup 4th round, the rested first-team elite of Liverpool will return to the starting eleven to undertake the Merseyside Derby against their bitter rivals, Everton. A short trip across Stanley Park awaits Arne Slot and his Premier League leaders, as Goodison Park plays host to this game for one last time before their upcoming move to a new stadium. David Moyes has reinvigorated the blues somewhat and will be hoping to overcome a club which tormented him for so many years during his previous spell as manager.

Everton Availability

Everton manager David Moyes will be without several key players: Orel Mangala, Armando Broja, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dwight McNeil, Youssef Ramalho Chermiti, Seamus Coleman, and are all ruled out, whereas Vitalii Mykolenko has a calf strain and will be assessed before Wednesday.

In terms of recent form, the Toffees lost 0-2 at home to Bournemouth at the weekend, as they too dropped out of the FA Cup in the 4th round of the famous competition. A 4-0 win at home to Leicester came before that loss as they overcame Leicester with an emphatic scoreline. An impressive 0-1 win away to Brighton and a 3-2 home win against struggling Tottenham have also been recorded as the turnabout in form continues in the league.

After 23 matches in the top tier, 26 points have been accumulated leading to a 16th place standing in the current table.

The predicted lineup for Everton, using a 4-2-3-1 formation, is as follows: If Vitalii Mykolenko is not deemed fit enough to start, Ashley Young will retain his place from the weekend.

GK – Jordan Pickford

RB – Jake O’Brien

RCB – James Tarkowski

LCB – Jarrod Branthwaite

LB – Vitalii Mykolenko

CM – James Garner

CDM – Idrissa Gueye

ACM – Abdoulaye Doucouré

RM – Jesper Lindstrøm

CF – Beto

LM – Iliman Ndiaye

Liverpool Availability

Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez after his comeback from a previous complaint ended at eleven minutes on Sunday, as a suspected hamstring strain ended his FA Cup participation in the early stages. Trent Alexander Arnold will be hoping to be fit, however, the Gomez issue means that no risks will be taken within this critical month of Premier League fixtures.

In their most recent match, the Reds much rotated team lost 1-0 away to Plymouth, as they crashed out of the FA Cup. That loss came after a 4-0 at home to Spurs, as they created a 4-1 aggregate scoreline in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final.

The Red’s last league came at Anfield where they ran out comfortable 4-1 winners over visiting Ipswich. With 23 matches played, Liverpool currently tops the Premier League standings with an impressive 56 points.

Here is the expected lineup that Arne Slot will field for this away match against a resurgent Everton team. Dominik Szoboszlai will be vital in creating pressure and power beyond the opposition midfield, whereas the physicality of Darwin Núñez will be needed to combat a strong rearguard.

– GK: Alisson Becker

– RB: Conor Bradley

– RCB: Ibrahima Konaté

– LCB: Virgil van Dijk (c)

– LB: Andy Robertson

– CM: Ryan Gravenberch

– ACM: Dominik Szoboszlai

– CM: Alexis Mac Allister

– RF: Mohamed Salah

– CF: Darwin Núñez

– LF: Cody Gakpo

How Will This Contest Play Out?

Liverpool is expected to use the game to create a nine-point gap between themselves and Arsenal, to increase the pressure on the North London club. Though a draw would be a decent enough result for the Reds, the intensity and drive to succeed should see Liverpool prevail as winners.

The hosts will look to use the occasion to unsettle their neighbours and hope that strength can be gathered from the surrounding support. Abdoulaye Doucouré will offer the most effective attacking threat with his driving runs from midfield, whereas Jarrod Branthwaite will be tasked with ensuring a right rearguard against a ferocious incoming attack.

Player to Watch: Dominik Szoboszlai

Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

Everton 1 – 2 Liverpool