Everton heads into this clash with renewed confidence after snapping a five-game winless streak and ending a four-match scoring drought midweek. A resounding 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers not only lifted the mood at the club but also eased pressure on manager Sean Dyche, whose future had been under scrutiny. That crucial win propelled the Toffees back up to 15th in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone.
However, Everton faces a tough stretch ahead. After Saturday’s derby, they’ll travel to Arsenal, host Chelsea just before Christmas, and then visit Manchester City on Boxing Day. Securing points against Liverpool would be invaluable as they brace for these challenging fixtures.
The Toffees will aim for consecutive league wins for the first time since April—a run that included a victory over Liverpool at Goodison. But history is not on their side. They haven’t beaten Liverpool in back-to-back matches since the 1984-85 season when they last won the league title. Against teams at the top of the table, Everton’s record is equally dismal, with only four wins in their last 47 attempts.
Liverpool, on the other hand, remains a daunting opponent. The Reds have dominated the rivalry in recent years, losing only six of their 54 meetings with Everton since 2000. However, their last visit to Goodison in April ended in a surprising loss, snapping a 12-game unbeaten streak at the venue.
For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, this will be his first experience of the Merseyside derby. While his predecessor Jürgen Klopp had a mixed record at Goodison—winning only two of eight visits, but Slot’s side will look to capitalize on their strong start to the season. Playing in the early 12:30 pm kickoff slot could be a factor, but Liverpool has thrived in such situations recently, remaining unbeaten in their last eight early Saturday matches, winning six.
The stakes are high for the Reds, as a win would increase pressure on their title rivals. However, their defensive vulnerabilities have raised concerns. Despite boasting the best defensive record in the league, Liverpool has now conceded at least two goals in four consecutive away games. Their midweek 3-3 draw at Newcastle—where a late error from Caoimhin Kelleher allowed Fabian Schär to equalize—highlighted these issues.
With Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City all winning their midweek matches, Liverpool’s lead has slightly shrunk. Saturday’s derby presents a perfect opportunity to reassert their dominance, but Everton will be determined to make their final Goodison derby one to remember.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Armando Broja made a brief but promising debut for Everton during Wednesday’s win, creating two solid chances—though both were squandered by Jack Harrison. His return to action adds competition up front, putting pressure on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who regained his starting spot from Beto and played a key role in forcing the two own goals by Craig Dawson.Everton’s attacking depth will soon improve further with Youssef Chermiti expected to return in the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, midfielders James Garner and Tim Iroegbuman are racing against time to be fit for the grueling winter schedule.
On the Liverpool side, defensive issues persist with Ibrahima Konaté and Conor Bradley still unavailable. Their absence was felt on Wednesday, as Joe Gomez struggled at the back. With Trent Alexander-Arnold likely to return, Jarrell Quansah may partner Virgil van Dijk in central defense.
Goalkeeper Alisson is nearing a comeback, but manager Arne Slot has been cautious about rushing him back due to Caoimhín Kelleher’s strong performances. However, after Kelleher’s costly mistake at Newcastle, Alisson could return sooner than planned.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister will miss the derby due to suspension after receiving a yellow card at Newcastle. Additionally, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are unlikely to feature, given the intensity of this fixture.
As always, much of the spotlight will fall on Mohamed Salah. After his two goals midweek, he now tops the Premier League scoring charts, surpassing Erling Haaland. Salah also set another milestone, overtaking Wayne Rooney for the most Premier League games with both a goal and an assist (37), after assisting Curtis Jones for Liverpool’s first equalizer against Newcastle.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Everton possible starting lineup:Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Ndiaye, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
EXPERT PREDICTION
Everton 2-3 Liverpool
Even when Liverpool weren’t firing on all cylinders, they often managed to come out on top against their Merseyside rivals. Despite a slight stumble on Wednesday, Liverpool remain the clear favorites, and it’s easy to see why.
