Liverpool face Everton in the 241st edition of the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, Saturday afternoon at 12:30 BST. This is one of the top rivalries in world football and perhaps the top intra-city rivalry in all of English football. The Reds versus the Blues is part of the very fabric of the city of Liverpool and the Premier League.
It's a quick turnover for both teams after the midweek matches. Liverpool took all 3 points in dramatic fashion from Newcastle on Wednesday night. The Reds snatched the victory at Anfield with a goal in the 90+8 minute by Fabio Carvalho.
Wednesday's victory gives Liverpool two wins in a row. After a slow start, the Reds are climbing up the Premier League table and are sitting in 6th place. A win at Everton tomorrow could catapult Liverpool to the top 4 where most people believe they belong.
Talking Points for Week 6
Liverpool will get a big boost in the form of Darwin Núñez. The Reds' new striker returns from his 3-game suspension for headbutting Crystal Palace's Joachim Andersen.
Will Jürgen Klopp break up the current starting lineup to give Núñez the start again? I don't think so, Roberto Firmino is in fine form and deserves to keep his place in the lineup. Firmino has 3 goals in the last 2 games.
At least for now, Núñez seems more confident and is more effective coming on as a second-half substitute. I think a more interesting question is, has Fabio Carvalho earned a start with his recent play? Not just because of his buzzer-beater goal on Wednesday either, the other summer signing has been a great fit in the team and deserves more minutes.
The other big piece of business the Reds took care of this week was the signing of Arthur Melo. The Brazilian midfielder joined Liverpool on a season-long loan from Juventus as the transfer window closed on Wednesday night. According to Klopp's Friday press conference, Melo won't be available until Wednesday's Champions League opener against Napoli.
Moving forward, Melo will help the Liverpool midfield that is still hampered with injuries. Klopp confirmed in his Friday press conference that Jordan Henderson will miss the Merseyside derby with a hamstring injury.
The injury news isn't all bad. He also said that there is a good possibility that Diogo Jota will be able to make his season debut. Jota has been out since the pre-season with a nagging thigh injury. Klopp also mentioned that Thiago is nearing a return, “I think at the beginning of next week, he will return to training with the team.”
Everton: Still Struggling But Still Dangerous
The roar at Anfield after Carvalho's goal at the death on Wednesday has hardly faded, and now we are talking about a game against the ancient rivals from across Stanley Park. Everton come into the derby off of two consecutive draws last week at Leeds United and Brentford respectively.
The Blues' recent struggles have been well documented. They narrowly avoided relegation in the closing weeks of last season. This season they have struggled to start the season. They have yet to win a game and would love to make the Merseyside Derby their first.
The Blues don't have a true striker and have had trouble scoring goals of late. Everton are still dangerous, even though the team has stopped splashing the cash around for new players. They did manage to keep advances for star-forward Anthony Gordon at bay at the transfer window.
Frank Lampard will have his team ready for the match. While Liverpool have bigger games on their calendar, these days Everton does not. This is the biggest match of the season for them, Liverpool at home, and they will be up for it. The Reds will have to avoid another slow start if they want to beat their nearest rivals.
LFC Globe Verdict
If you are interested in football history, you should start with the Merseyside derby. It is a match steeped in history and one of the oldest matches in the world. I say enjoy the history that surrounds the match as much as the match itself.
Everyone associated with the city of Liverpool circles the date of the Merseyside derbies on the calendar. Either you're a Red, or you're a Blue, and you have to pick a side. This match was first played in October of 1894. Read that again… 1894. Liverpool and Everton have met each season in either the Premier League or the First Division since 1962.
Besides the history, the Reds have to be aware of the present. Everton will be ready to strike and Liverpool mustn't start as slowly as they've done at times this season. They've had two consecutive home games to get their season on track.
Now they are back on the road, where the results haven't been kind to them. They've only managed one point away from Anfield in the two games they've played. Liverpool need to start the game strongly and try to get their away form in order.
