LIVERPOOL, Sporting Alert – Team news ahead of the 229th Merseyside Derby between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool head into this game on a good run in recent outings and the pundits are backing them to edge an Everton side that is still searching to find its identity this season.
The last five Merseyside Derby games at Anfield have produced 14 goals and I am expecting another entertaining encounter for the neutrals this weekend.
‘It’s the most special derby I’ve experienced’ ?@GWijnaldum looking to maintain his personal 100% record for the Reds against the Blues: https://t.co/umui3L5UYE. pic.twitter.com/mZimp2QrpD
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 9, 2017
Both teams head into the game with injury problems.
Liverpool will be without left-back Alberto Moreno (ankle), who will miss the Merseyside Derby after being forced off the field at half-time against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League in midweek.
Manager Jurgen Klopp is expected to hand the experienced James Milner Moreno’s starting place.
The Reds will also be without Adam Bogdan, Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Matip through injuries.
Captain Jordan Henderson, however, is set to return to the starting team after missing Wednesday’s win over Spartak Moscow.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also pushing for a starting place.
For Everton, James McCarthy, Ramiro Funes Mori, Ross Barkley, Seamus Coleman and Yannick Bolasie are all out, but manager Sam Allardyce is hoping to have Leighton Baines available after the left-back missed their last match with an injury.
? | “@WayneRooney has played lots of big games for @ManUtd against #LFC, so he has to use that.
“As an Evertonian, he will be desperate to do well.”
More from Sam ➡️ https://t.co/Vdv11Rij76 pic.twitter.com/JfzZOAf0Fa
— Everton (@Everton) December 9, 2017
Allardyce will also have his center-back pair of Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka available after they overcame injury problems.
Allardyce is known to build his back on solid defense, but the former England boss will have problems dealing with Liverpool’s attacking power of Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
Liverpool are fourth in the English Premier League standings with 29 points.
Everton are in 10th place on 18 points.
? | “It is everything – all I wanted to do was play in a Merseyside derby.”@jonjoekenny8 ➡️ https://t.co/So23y1GNL5 pic.twitter.com/iBQIPiEmQl
— Everton (@Everton) December 9, 2017
QUICK STATS
- Everton are winless in 17 successive Premier League visits to Anfield.
- Nine of those trips have ended in defeats.
- The last time Everton won at Anfield was in September 1999 when Kevin Campbell netted the lone goal in a 1-0 victory.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 14 games in all competitions against Everton
- Everton have won just one of their last 21 top-flight games against Liverpool (W1 D9 L11)
Managers Quotes
Jurgen Klopp Says: “I know a lot of Everton supporters, you meet them all day around the club, and that’s absolutely OK, I have no problem with that. But in the game, I want to see only us at our best.”
Sam Allardyce Says: “The derby is a big game. I have to make sure the players play to their capabilities and get a result.”
