Merseyside Derby teams news and prediction: Everton vs Liverpool

The Merseyside Derby is usually a torrid time of the football calender for Everton supporters. Not since 2010 have Everton beaten Liverpool and there have been 22 encounters since then. Liverpool haven't even been brilliant for most of that period but under Jurgen Klopp they have just got stronger and stronger over the last four years. Until now.

Everton remarkably head into Saturday's match top of the Premier League and three points above of defending champions Liverpool. Carlo Ancelotti's new-look Everton have hit the ground running with seven wins from seven in all competitions and four in a row in the Premier League.

The international break arguably came at the wrong moment for Everton, who continued to set pulses racing, while Liverpool were hammered 7-2 by Aston Villa. Ahead of one of the most eagerly anticipated Merseyside Derby's in years, we have all your need-to-know match information in one place.

When is kick off?
Saturday 17th October, 12:30 GMT
Where is the match?
Goodison Park, Liverpool
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 1 / BT Sport Ultimate

The season so far

Everton have defeated everyone in front of them up until this point. Starting the season with a 1-0 win away to Tottenham, the Toffees have gone on to beat West Ham, Crystal Palace and Brighton. Scoring goals has proved no issue for Everton, with 12 scored across their four matches, but they not as impressive at the back. They have conceded in each of their last three in the Premier League, letting in five goals in the process.

Liverpool started the season with three wins from three and looked set to romp to the defence of their league title with their rivals faltering at every turn. Then they faced Aston Villa in their final match before the break. And they were not just beaten but humilated 7-2 in one of the most bizarre results in recent Premier League history. The international break certainly came at a good moment for the Liverpool players to dust themselves down from that embarassment.

Team News

The good news is Carlo Ancelotti expects midfield duo Andre Gomes and Allan to be fine to start on Saturday after both missed their win over Brighton before the international break. The latter's availability is more important given he currently averages 4 tackles pg. The bad news is Yerry Mina returned from international duty injured and Everton already have Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite sidelined. It means deadline day signing Ben Godfrey could be thrown in at the deep end for his Everton debut if Mina fails to recover in time. Star full-back Lucas Digne is also a doubt after picking up a knock for France in midweek. Deadline day signing Robin Olsen is expected to start this one on the bench but Jordan Pickford is in last chance saloon to keep his place in the side.

Liverpool have more to cheer about heading into Saturday's match, with Thiago and Sadio Mane both available again after recovering from coronavirus. Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri are also free to play after initial tests came back positive during the international break, while Joel Matip is back in training after a stint out injured. Unfortunately for Jurgen Klopp, however, there is still no Alisson. Adrian was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons before the international break after conceding seven against Aston Villa and will be desperate to avoid similar mistakes in the derby.

Probable XIs

Everton (433): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Digne; Gomes, Allan, Doucoure; Rodriguez, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison

Liverpool (433): Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Thiago, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane

Key Battle: James Rodriguez vs Mohamed Salah

There was certainly huge excitement around James Rodriguez's arrival at Everton, arguably the biggest coup in Premier League history. However, the 29-year-old has even managed to surpass those early expectations after making a flying start to life at Goodison Park. The ex-Real Madrid creator is arguably the biggest name in the Premier League and against Liverpool he will face up against No.2: Mo Salah.

The Egypt international has ruled Liverpool since arriving in 2017 but now has serious competition in Rodriguez. Both players have managed a direct hand in five goals in four games, with Rodriguez scoring three times and providing two assists and Salah finding the back of the net on five occasions. Rodriguez (8.41) is the third best rated player in the Premier League and Salah is sixth (8.14).

Neither are likely to spend much time with each other on the pitch, with both expected to be deployed on the right hand side for their respective sides. But Rodriguez could yet get joy from the space Salah vacates. A common theme to Everton's attacks is Rodriguez cutting inside and using the wand of his left foot to sweep the play out to Lucas Digne and Richarlison on the opposite flank. Salah will need to be mindful of that otherwise Rodriguez could cause real issues for Liverpool in the space left behind.

Prediction: 1-1