10 important things to know about the match between Everton vs Liverpool – Liverpool FC

It is the time of the Merseyside derby and a game that Liverpool need to win and their current form shows the ability to do just that.

The Reds are in formidable form as they head into their 239th Merseyside derby, winning their head-to-head matches 10-0 on aggregate.

Now it’s time to make a very short trip to Goodison Park, where things have not been resolved under the management of Rafa Benitez.

Here are 10 things to know before the game.

1. Everton is in dire straits

They say form disappears from the window in a derby and Everton will be the side hoping that comes true as they have only collected two points from the last 21 possible.

Five losses and two draws in tournaments, the Blues are only 6 points above the relegation group with 13 matches played.

Their 0-1 defeat last time at Brentford resulted in fans openly expressing their disappointment with their last win since September 25, against Norwich.

2. How can the Blues line up?

Rafa Benitez has a number of key players out of his selection midweek, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Minaa and Tom Davies due to injury and Mason Holgate due to suspension.

He will welcome back Richarlison, however, and Liverpool will be eager to see no sign of what his rash and dangerous approach poses. Thiagoinjury of the blue shirt team in the last time.

Demarai Gray could return to the typical lineup to add some much-needed abilities with hard-to-get goals. Everton, with only one of their last four games, but they will have a tough task against Liverpool.

Feasibility Everton XI: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Digne; Townsend, Allan, Doucoure, Iwobi; Gray; Richarlison

3. Any Liverpool injury updates?

It was a case of the same team in Jurgen Kloppwill process on Wednesday as well as on Saturday with Naby Keita, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Roberto Firmino still not available.

It is predicted that Keita and Gomez will return to training with the team next week while Firmino still has “a few weeks to go before a full return.”

Disappointment continues through Curtis JonesMeanwhile, Liverpool are waiting for the doctor’s green light before he can return to play.

At least the good news is that there are no new injuries Southampton!

4. Liverpool XI Prediction

The first thought is that the XI start as strong as possible, with a four-day break being reasonable.

But Klopp is known to throw in a wildcard or two in the derby and Wednesday could be no different, with Divock Origi, Kostas Tsimikas, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino all possibilities.

Having said that, it is remarkable that only a single change can be taken into account Joel Matip come back instead Ibrahima Konate.

Liverpool XI may have: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Jota

5. What a duo

There is much debate about Liverpool’s best midfield when all options are relevant and working but it’s fair to say Fabinho and Thiago would be two popular choices, and for good reason.

They didn’t start together as much as expected but in the 12 games they have in all competitions, Liverpool have won them all.

Not to mention 10 of the 12 games ended with Liverpool keeping a clean sheet.

It can go on long.

6. Benitez’s record against Liverpool

Benitez up front is somewhat of a familiar sight for Liverpool as the Spaniard has faced his former club on eight different occasions.

That he will do it as manager of our fierce rivals is quite another, given this is the first time that a former Liverpool manager has been in charge. Everton in this fixture.

As the manager of Valencia, Chelsea and Newcastle, Benitez have a record of 2 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats at the hands of the Red Devils.

And now it’s time for Liverpool to score another goal in the losing milestone.

7. Return of Van Dijk Goodison

Virgil van Dijk will return to his heartbreaking injury scene and although it can be “difficult”, Klopp knows his defender has the experience to navigate emotions and games safely:

“We’re all human, so it’s probably hard to ignore something like that.

“But Virgil is very experienced and he has been in situations like that constantly since he came back.

“He was always challenged and all that sort of thing, where he had to be completely free of all the things he might have in mind because of a past problem.

“Yes, it’s a bit different, because it’s in the same place. But other than that, it’s just another football game.”

8. Did you know?

That is only Steven Gerrard (9) and Robbie Fowler (6) have scored more goals in the Merseyside derby in Premier League than Divock Origi.

Ahead is a continuous thorn in EvertonThe team and always present in their nightmare have scored five goals in eight league appearances.

His game time may have been limited so far this season but he has his sights set on and Klopp clearly isn’t afraid to put him on the field against the Blues.

9. Tierney is the man in the middle

Paul Tierney will be in charge of his first Merseyside derby, with Michael Oliver overseeing VAR.

This is Liverpool’s second game Tierney has led this season, his first being a 2-2 draw before City man in October.

There were 7 yellow cards received that day and a derby certainly more than that.

10. It’s official time!

It’s that time again of the year when Amazon Prime returns to its UK broadcast bubble, with its first offering in the form of a Merseyside derby from 6:30 p.m. (GMT), before kicking off at 8:15 a.m.

And don’t worry, you can get a free 30-day trial of Prime Video to watch Everton versus Liverpool and then Leicester vs Liverpool on December 28 here!

But if you’re not able to watch the match live, Henry Jackson will headline This Is Anfield’s live match blog from 7.30pm to tell you about all the action, completely biased of course!