Everton vs Liverpool preview
After five games, Jurgen Klopp is still unsure about his Liverpool team. The Reds started the season with two draws and one defeat. However, it appeared they had got their season back on track after the 9-0 thumping win over Bournemouth. In the next game, Klopp’s men seemed to have the same problems and needed an injury-time winner from Fabio Carvalho to take all three points.
Now they have the little issue of travelling to their Merseyside neighbours to make it three consecutive wins. Meanwhile, Everton are having a nightmarish start of their own. The Toffees have failed to win a single match after five games. Everton had survived relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, and it appears this season could be the same story.
Frank Lampard’s men have also lost Richarlison, who signed for Tottenham Hotspur. The Brazilian was their best player and was instrumental in their survival last season. In their two matches at home, Everton have lost to Chelsea and drew with Nottingham Forest.
The injuries to their squad have hurt Liverpool. Fabinho, Thiago, Diogo Jota, Ibrahim Konate, Joel Matip, and Curtis Jones were all unavailable for multiple matches. Of these, Jones, Matip and Jota are back in training which will give Klopp a massive boost for the clash.
However, Jordan Henderson will be unavailable for two weeks after a hamstring injury against Newcastle United.
Everton vs Liverpool team news
Everton have a lengthy injury list as they languish near the relegation zone. Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Mason Holgate and Andros Townsend are all missing. However, Everton bolstered their squad after signing former player Idrissa Gueye and Manchester United’s youth academy player James Garner.
However, it still is a tall order as they will be months without their star striker Dominic-Calvert Lewin. This has put all the burden of goal-scoring on Anthony Gordon.
Predicted Everton Lineup: Pickford; Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; McNeil, Davies, Onana, Iwobi, Gordon; Maupay
Goodison Park tomorrow.
Everton Vs Liverpool. More than Football🤣🤣 💙❤💙❤
It's A fight. pic.twitter.com/owzGGZ9XW6— ℤℍ𝕆𝕊𝕋𝔸|🇨🇩🎧 (@Agani_Presson) September 2, 2022
For Liverpool, the game at Everton will be a relief as they will have far more first-team players available. While Liverpool have recorded two wins on the trot, the performances have been highly different. The midfield has been a critical issue with Fabinho, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones, Thiago, and now Henderson missing at some point of the current season.
However, now Klopp has more options to choose from. He will also have a stronger bench available to him.
Predicted Liverpool Lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Carvalho; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Gamechangers
Everton are without many of their players that make a difference. And facing a side like Liverpool with such a thin squad is a massive challenge. However, Lampard can learn from other teams that faced Liverpool this season. The Reds have been rusty and have found it tough to break the opposition down.
And thus, the onus will be on the defence, especially Conor Coady and James Tarkowski, to keep things tight at the back. Anthony Gordon is the top scorer in the attack with only two goals, which is worrisome.
Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip and Curtis Jones are all back for Everton.
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) September 1, 2022
Liverpool got a tenacious win in their last outing which will boost their confidence. Victories like these are needed to keep the momentum going in such a tough league. The attackers have been in fine form, especially Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino. At the same time, Darwin Nunez will also return after his three-match ban to provide more firepower in the attack.
Everton vs Liverpool predictions
Everton have picked up their form where they left last season, which is not a good sign. The Toffees are struggling due to lack of players and tactical awareness. Lampard had masterminded their relegation survival last year, but for a club as big as Everton, the ambitions must be far higher.
For Liverpool, anything short of victory will be a disappointment. The Reds are already eight points behind leaders Arsenal and will need to go on an impressive run of matches to make up for lost ground.
However, the current situation at Goodison park bodes well for Jurgen Klopp, who knows his squad can destroy such teams on their day which they will need to do more often. FootTheBall predicts a 2-1 win for Liverpool.
