We return to the Premier League on Saturday morning, and its the first Derby weekend of the season in the city of Liverpool as the Red's welcome struggling Everton to Anfield for the early kick-off. It's the neighbors, the boos, the match where someone will get booked inside 2 minutes, where Klopp will scream at the opposition bench, where friends and family turn on each other.
Its also a match that Liverpool tend to win.
Everton struggled in their initial set of fixtures this season which saw them considered serious relegation contenders, but 3 wins from their last 4 fixtures, which have included victories over Aston Villa and Brentford, will see them coming into this game in better form than many may expect. That run of form has also seen them score in 6 of their last 7 games, having failed to register a goal in their opening 3 matches.
Sean Dyche may be tempted to stick with the starting eleven from their 3-0 victory over Bournemouth last time out, although the biggest decision will be whether to continue with Dominic Calvert-Lewin over star signing Beto up front in the number nine spot. Otherwise Onana and former United youngster Garner will have the task to halt Liverpool's onslaught in midfield, and the likes of James Tarkowski and Ashley Young will need to contain the Red's attack.
For the hosts, the biggest decision for manager Jurgen Klopp will be whether to rest key South American players which have travelled long distances during the international break. The last time the Red's returned from international duty, it was evident that Alex MacAllister in particular was not match ready and so what should have been a routine win over Wolves turned into a much more difficult ordeal. With Curtis Jones still under suspension, and Endo having travelled home to Japan for his national team appearance, it is likely that Gravenberch and Szoboszlai are the only guaranteed starters in midfield.
In defence Andy Robertson will be unavailable after a shoulder injury with Scotland and so the Greek Scouser will need to make a rare appearance at left back. Klopp will have a choice between Konate and Matip, both fit, and up front all his strikers appear to be available, with Cody Gakpo having returned to training on Thursday.
My prediction for this game is that Nunez causes absolute havoc. The guy is on fire, he has found his role and purpose in the team, and he is a pure entertainer. He will feed off teh energy within the ground, he will absorb the abuse from Evertonians, and he will be chaotic.
As such, my selected team for the match would be as follows:
Anton agrees with this as he says 'Merseyside derbies are always tough and form does go out of the window, but we are the better team and we are at home. It's risky playing all of the South Americans, but we have no choice with our injury issues and the magnitude of the game, they can get a rest in midweek'.
I couldn't agree more with Anton - this is the one game where form doesn't matter but this Liverpool team are just a different gravy.
Up the Reds.
Paul Collins
@IrishRedDubai
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