Everton vs Liverpool – Match preview and team news

In partnership with

The Football Faithful

·12 febbraio 2025

Everton vs Liverpool – Match preview and team news

The last-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park will be played in the Premier League tonight.

Originally scheduled for December, the initial game was postponed after being impacted by the strong winds from Storm Darragh which made the conditions unplayable.

OneFootball Video

Both teams exited the FA Cup at the fourth round stage at the weekend. A submissive Everton side saw Bournemouth knock them out in a 2-0 home defeat.

Full-back Vitali Mykolenko has returned to training after missing the weekend’s action due to a minor calf injury. Strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti are all unavailable. Dwight McNeil isn’t expected to feature until April, while Orel Mangala’s season is over after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Merseyside Derby, you say... 👀👨‍💻♻️
– mercoledì 12 febbraio 2025

A youthful Liverpool side couldn’t overcome Championship outfit Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup on Sunday.

In his first start of the calendar year, Joe Gomez couldn’t continue past the 11th minute after the recurrence of a hamstring injury.

The likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson will return after being rested at the weekend. Arne Slot has received a huge creative boost with Trent Alexander-Arnold on track to be available for tonight’s game. The academy graduate missed the weekend defeat.

Everton vs Liverpool – Match preview and team news

Form

Everton: LWWWL

Everton’s longest winning streak of the season came to an end as they lost to Bournemouth in the FA Cup. An Antonie Semenyo penalty and a goal from Daniel Jebbison consigned David Moyes’ side to a fourth-round exit.

Prior to that disheartening result, the Toffees had won successive games against Tottenham, Brighton and Everton.

The influence that Moyes’s homecoming has had on the squad is apparent and the threat of relegation has softened. Though 16th in the Premier League, the Blues are nine points clear of safety.

Liverpool: WLWWL

Liverpool lost for only the fourth time this campaign on Sunday at the hands of Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle.

Arne Slot rang the changes for their trip to Devon and left out numerous key figures. That approach proved to be complacent as the Pilgrims provided a stern test. A second-half penalty from Ryan Hardie was the difference and the Reds couldn’t breach Conor Hazard’s net.

The result of tonight’s derby could have great significance in deciding the Premier League title race. Three points for Liverpool would send them nine points clear at the top of the table with only 14 games to play.

Last Meeting: Everton 2-0 Liverpool, Premier League, 24th April 2024

Everton won their first Merseyside derby at Goodison Park since 2010 back in April.

The hosts asserted themselves from the first whistle and were awarded a penalty in the sixth minute.

However, after a VAR check, the decision was reversed. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was adjudged to be offside before being fouled by Alisson.

The Toffees were undeterred and notched themselves in front just shy of the half-hour mark through Jarrad Branthwaite. After Liverpool failed to clear their lines, the ball bounced to the defender who squeezed a shot past the goalkeeper and in off the post.

Jordan Pickford then denied Luis Diaz with a smart stop to keep the scores level before Everton doubled their advantage after the interval.

Dwight McNeil flighted a searching corner to the back post, which found the unmarked Calvert-Lewin. The striker was onside this time to send the Toffees faithful into raptures.

Sean Dyche’s team held on to inflict defeat on Jurgen Klopp in his final-ever Merseyside Derby.

Predicted Lineups

Everton: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Harrison, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.

Who is the referee?

Michael Oliver will be the match official. Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring will assist him while Tony Harrington will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Chris Kavanagh and he will be assisted by Eddie Smart.