- Liverpool seeking victory in final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in Premier League
- Reds suffered setback in the title race on Wednesday following draw with Newcastle
- Arne Slot missing some key first-teamers for the trip across Stanley Park
Liverpool are looking to extend their advantage at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday lunchtime when they visit Everton in the Merseyside derby.
In what will almost certainly be the final meeting between the local rivals at Goodison Park as Everton relocate for the 2025/26 season, Liverpool will be seeking to say farewell to the stadium with victory. That will be trickier than the league table suggests, however, with the Reds having only won two of their past 12 trips across Stanley Park.
Liverpool need to respond to one of their first setbacks of the season as they stumbled to a dramatic 3-3 draw with Newcastle United on Wednesday evening. Defensive errors proved costly for the table toppers as their lead was slashed to seven points.
Arne Slot's first Merseyside derby comes with significant challenges in terms of team selection. Injuries will limit the Dutchman's choices in defence and attack, while Alexis Mac Allister's suspension leaves a significant void in midfield.
Here is how Liverpool could line up at the weekend.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Everton (4-2-3-1)
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher - An uncharacteristically error-strewn performance helped Newcastle earn their hard-fought point at St James' Park. Alisson is on the mend but is extremely unlikely to return for the trip to Goodison.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold - Slot's decision to manage Alexander-Arnold's workload was a sensible one on paper but it backfired against the Magpies midweek. Jarell Quansah struggled at right-back and the entrance of Alexander-Arnold in the second half was followed by two assists from the No.66.
CB: Joe Gomez - Having performed admirably against Erling Haaland in place of the injured Ibrahima Konate, Gomez dropped a stinker against Newcastle. Beaten too easily for Anthony Gordon's effort, the Englishman may be offered a shot at redemption after being hooked in the 67th minute midweek.
CB: Virgil van Dijk - Even Van Dijk couldn't glue a leaky defence together on Wednesday evening and the Dutchman was far from his imperious best on Tyneside. Has Dominic Calvert-Lewin for company on Saturday.
LB: Andy Robertson - An injury to Kostas Tsimikas means there will be no rest for Robertson at the weekend. The Scotsman is yet to get going this season despite the impressive performances of those around him.
DM: Ryan Gravenberch - Wednesday was perhaps Gravenberch's weakest performance in his newly-acquired defensive midfield role. He will be tasked with dominating a combative Everton engine room at the weekend.
DM: Curtis Jones - With Alexis Mac Allister suspended for the weekend following a fifth yellow card of the season, Jones may be dropped into a deeper role against Everton.
RW: Mohamed Salah - No matter the performance Liverpool produce, Salah will be involved for the better. A record-breaking two goals and an assist midweek take his Premier League tally to a combined 21 in 14 matches this term.
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai - With Jones potentially sinking into the double pivot, Szoboszlai may be tasked with operating in a free role behind the striker. Scored a cracker on his last away trip against Southampton but still lacks consistency.
LW: Cody Gakpo - Gakpo has been hugely impressive this season and proved his worth with recent goals against Real Madrid and Manchester City. He will be keen to give either one of Everton's veteran right-backs - Ashley Young or Seamus Coleman - a difficult afternoon.
ST: Luis Diaz - When Gakpo and Diaz have started together this season, it's often been the Colombian who has performed centrally. He's done a sterling job in such a function and he could come into replace the unconvincing Darwin Nunez.
