Football Previews

    Liverpool vs Everton preview, predictions and confirmed line-ups as Klopp rests Salah and Firmino

    By Harry Edwards

    Players to watch in Liverpool v Everton

    Published: 19:15, 4 December 2019

    Liverpool will be looking to pile misery on rivals Everton when the pair face off on Wednesday.

    The Toffees are currently languishing in 17th in the Premier League and were handed an agonising defeat against Leicester City on Sunday despite having taken the lead.

    As a result, Marco Silva’s position as manager is in doubt and a heavy defeat against bitter rivals Liverpool could spell the end. And Liverpool are in a good position to deal that defeat, currently sitting eight points clear at the top of the table.

    The Reds have dropped just two points from their 14 games so far this season and have won their past five matches.

    Read on for our Liverpool v Everton preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.

    When is Liverpool vs Everton and where can I watch live?

    Competition: Premier League

    Venue: Anfield

    Date: Wednesday, 4 December 2019

    Kick-off: 8:15 PM (UK time)

    TV coverage (UK): Amazon Prime Video

    Last five meetings between Liverpool and Everton:

    03 March 2019: Everton 0-0 Liverpool (Premier League)

    02 December 2018: Liverpool 1-0 Everton (Premier League)

    07 April 2018: Everton 0-0 Liverpool (Premier League)

    05 January 2018: Liverpool 2-1 Everton (FA Cup)

    10 December 2017: Liverpool 1-1 Everton (Premier League)

    Aggregate Score: Liverpool (DWDWD) 4-2 Everton (DLDLD)

    Ones to watch

    Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk

    Liverpool’s win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend came thanks to the goals from Virgil van Dijk but, of course, that’s not why he’s so vital to the team.

    Since joining in January 2018 Van Dijk has helped turned Liverpool around, helping to secure things at the back. His performances en route to Liverpool winning the Champions League and leading the Premier League earned him a nomination for the 2019 Ballon d’Or.

    At the time of writing, we still await the results of the award, but Van Dijk is expected to get close to winning the whole thing – joining Lionel Messi as one of the favourites. Whether he does manage to do it or not, there’s no denying Van Dijk is the best centre-back in world football right now.

    Key stat: Virgil van Dijk has won 75 aerial duels in the Premier League this season, more than any other defender.

    Everton: Lucas Digne

    If Everton are to get anything from their visit to Anfield, then Lucas Digne needs to be on his game in both defence and attack.

    The Frenchman is second only to Richarlison for tackles among the Everton squad this season, making 31 so far, and he will be put to the test by Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

    But when Everton do manage to embark on attacks of their own, Digne’s creativity will be key to unlocking what can be a leaky Liverpool defence.

    Key stat: Only Kevin De Bruyne (52) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (48) have created more chances in the Premier League than Lucas Digne (39) this season.

    Team news

    Liverpool

    Alisson will serve his one-game ban during the Merseyside Derby after being sent off in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Brighton for handling the ball outside the area. His replacement, as on Saturday, will be Adrian.

    The Reds are also without Fabinho until the new year so have gone with a midfield of Adam Lallana, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum. Jurgen Klopp has also made the bold decision to rest Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, pinning his decision down to “respect” for his playing squad.

    He said: “One change we had to do in Adrian for Alisson, and the other four we wanted to do, just to respect the game, to respect the intensity of the game first and foremost.

    “We did it because we can do it. I have to show the respect for the boys and I’ve said a lot of times how much I like the squad and now we have to use it.

    “That’s the line-up for today because we think the game will be really intense and for this you need kind of fresh legs and we try to bring them in.”

    Confirmed XI: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Lallana, Wijnaldum, Milner; Shaqiri, Mane, Origi.

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    Everton

    The Toffees pulled off a shock with a back three against Leicester City and again utilise the formation. Djibril Sidibe and Lucas Digne were particularly impressive as wing-backs and start again, while Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate did admirably at centre-back.

    Confirmed XI: Pickford; Holgate, Mina, Keane; Sidibe, Davies, Sigurdsson, Digne; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Iwobi.

    Squawka prediction

    The past five meetings between these two sides have been close, with them either ending in draws or one-goal Liverpool victories.

    Everton did show signs of improvement away to Leicester but the gulf between the Toffees and Liverpool will surely prove the difference on Wednesday.

    Liverpool’s defence can be breached. But in the end, the Reds may enjoy their most comfortable Merseyside Derby win since April 2017.

    Scoreline prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Everton

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