Liverpool vs Everton predictions: Reds can recover in Toffees test
- Liverpool have won eight of their last 10 home Premier League games
- Both teams have scored in three of Everton's last five league games
- Recommended Bet: Liverpool to win and both teams to score
Liverpool have an opportunity to claim top spot in the Premier League when they host Merseyside rivals Everton at Anfield in Saturday's lunchtime kickoff.
Jurgen Klopp's side were left to rue missed chances when Brighton pegged the Reds back for a 2-2 draw on the South Coast two weeks ago.
They sit fourth in the table going into the derby date — 10 points above an Everton side that gave themselves some breathing room with a 3-0 home win over Bournemouth last time out.
Liverpool were hit by a new injury blow when Andy Robertson sustained a suspected dislocated shoulder during Scotland’s game against Spain last Thursday.
He looks set to be replaced at left-back by either Kostas Tsimikas or Joe Gomez.
Joel Matip has been preferred over Ibrahima Konate as captain Virgil van Dijk's central defensive partner in recent weeks, while there are unlikely to be many changes in midfield where Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have been excellent so far this term
Harvey Elliott got the nod over Ryan Gravenberch against Brighton and, with Curtis Jones still serving his suspension from the Tottenham game, Klopp may decide to keep the Englishman in his starting XI.
Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo could be recalled alongside Mohamed Salah up top, with Klopp having named South American stars Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz on the bench the last time Liverpool played in the early game after an international break.
As for Everton, there could be a change in midfield for the trip across Stanley Park.
Idrissa Gana Gueye was initially named in Sean Dyche’s line-up for the 3-0 win over Bournemouth but the Senegal star was withdrawn after suffering an injury in the warm-up.
However, Gueye came off the bench for Senegal against Cameroon on Monday and should be available to replace Andre Onana or James Garner in Everton's 4-4-1-1 system.
Abdoulaye Doucoure operates behind lone striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has started four of Everton's last five games since returning from a fractured cheekbone.
But Dele Alli, Seamus Coleman and Andre Gomes are all still sidelined by injury.
The Toffees' only success on the Reds' home turf this century came when no fans were allowed at the game in 2021.
10 of the last 13 derbies have seen fewer than three goals scored, while both teams have notched in only three of the last 13 meetings.
Liverpool's outstanding home record across the last few seasons makes them very hard to oppose in any way, especially given Everton's awful record at Anfield in recent years.
But the loss of Robertson in defence could disrupt Liverpool enough for Everton to have their moments in this all-Merseyside duel.
The Toffees, boosted by a fully-fit Calvert-Lewin, have scored two or more goals in four of their last six games and appear to have found a solid formula of late.
Meanwhile, Klopp's team have kept only one clean sheet in eight top-flight matches so far this term and have conceded the opener in five of their last seven.
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