Everton vs Liverpool: Match preview, predicted line-ups, team news and prediction

Everton play Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. It will be the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees dug deep to secure a 2-2 draw at Brentford last time out, while Liverpool defeated Fulham 2-0 at home.

Match preview

Everton are five points adrift of fifth-placed Liverpool. They must avoid a defeat here to keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive.

David Moyes’ side have collected 10 points from their last six games – the same as Liverpool. They have also won their last two home league games, boosting their confidence.

Everton head into this clash refreshed, but are not expected to dominate possession. They will look to press high, force turnovers, and take advantage of set pieces.

They need to be wary of counter-attacks and defend the wide areas to prevent Liverpool’s wingers and full-backs from getting into dangerous positions.

The Reds were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

They are well-placed to secure qualification for Europe’s elite club competition for a third consecutive season.

The Reds have won just one of their last four league fixtures, but performances have improved in their last two outings.

Mohamed Salah has looked sharper in his last two appearances. Teenager Rio Ngumoha has also been terrific.

Salah and Ngumoha came off the bench against PSG, but could return to the starting line-up for Sunday’s showdown. They will be heavily involved in the visitors’ attacking play.

Liverpool will need to be clinical and protect their full-backs to prevent a defeat here.

Team news

Everton welcome Charly Alcaraz back from injury, leaving only Jack Grealish on the sidelines.

Liverpool will be without Hugo Ekitike, who suffered an Achilles tendon injury against PSG. Joe Gomez has also been ruled out after coming off injured against the Parisians.

Alisson Becker, Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are sidelined.

Predicted line-ups

Everton (4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford, Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Vitalii Mykolenko, James Garner, Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Dwight McNeil, Beto.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominic Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, Rio Ngumoha, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo.

Prediction

We predict a 2-2 draw.

Stats from transfermarkt.com & whoscored.com.