American Reds will be getting up bright and early while European Reds will be enjoying their lunch as the third installment of the Merseyside Derby takes place tomorrow at 7:30 AM EST. A win here further solidifies Liverpool's position in the top four.
Team News:
Plenty of important team news has been made apparent by manager Klopp in his pre-match preview. First, what we already knew. Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan, and Joe Gomez all remain out leaving the Liverpool defense shorthanded heading into the derby, as well as the second leg of the UCL Quarterfinals. These injuries will likely lead to a Lovren and van Dijk centre-back pairing for the second game in a row with Conor Masterson likely making the bench again. Also confirmed out is Adam Lallana who still seems to not have a time table for his return to fitness.
Now, the newest developments, the main of which being the fitness of Emre Can who it has been reported will miss the rest of the season. While Klopp has not gone that far in his press conferences, Can has been confirmed out for Saturday's derby clash as well as Tuesday's second leg. This injury opens the door for Jordan Henderson to assuredly start tomorrow, however with the captain suspended for the second leg of the quarterfinals Klopp is faced the dilemma of having just three fit centre-mids for the all-important tie.
Mo Salah's removal from the first leg of the quarterfinals was cause for concern, but talk surrounding his injury does not seem to be worth much more worry for Reds fans. Klopp has stated he will not rush the star winger back if he is not 100% for the derby, but this seems to be good news that may imply the Egyptian's involvement in Tuesday's match. With Salah potentially missing out, Klopp made the note that while he would not guarantee anything, the derby would be a good moment to give Danny Ings a start in what would be his first starting feature under the manager. The timing of this derby could permit young striker Dominic Solanke to perhaps feature as a starter as well.
Everton will expect to have star midfielder Idrissa Gueye back from a hamstring issue that left him out of the blue Merseyside team's starting eleven against Manchester City at last weekend. Aside from this, there is no immediate injury news from Everton as injuries to Mason Holgate, Glyfi Sigurdsson, and Eliaquim Mangala are all long-term issues.
Projected Liverpool Line-Up: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Ings, Firmino, Mane
Projected Everton Line-Up: Pickford; Coleman, Jagielka, Keane, Baines; Walcott, Davies, Gueye, Bolasie; Tosun, Calvert-Lewin
Previewing the Match:
While the third meeting of these two teams, this will be the first at Goodison Park as the previous two both occurred at Anfield with Everton drawing the league match-up but Liverpool getting the FA Cup victory off a Virgil van Dijk header. The Reds hold a 16-match unbeaten run on the Toffees and will attempt to carry this through another season.
With a vital second leg just two days after this match day, all eyes will be on the team selection of a short-handed Liverpool side. Youngsters have featured in first-team training throughout the week and speculation of a youngster being handed a surprise start has permeated the Liverpool fan base. Conor Masterson was named to the bench and seems to be the most probable candidate for the nod. What cannot be forgotten, however, is the continued hunt for a top four place. Chelsea has faltered off the path, however looking ahead this late in the season is dangerous and a local derby against a Sam Allardyce team is no time to start.
The team selection will be just as interesting for the Everton boss as well, and a key match-up looks to be the Everton attack against the Liverpool defense. Trent Alexander-Arnold is coming off the performance of his life as he neutralized Leroy Sane for the better part of 90 minutes. He will face another challenge in likely starter Yannick Bolasie, who made his return for Everton in their 2-0 win over Brighton. Bolasie troubled the defense in their last meeting but it will be interesting to see if Alexander-Arnold's stellar performance gives him the added confidence he needs to do the same to Bolasie.
If Dominic Calvert-Lewis does indeed start, all eyes will certainly be on him and his battles with the Liverpool defense. Calvert-Lewis drew what was a hotly debated penalty that ultimately led to Everton taking a point off Liverpool in the 1-1 early-season meeting between the two teams. Fellow front man Cenk Tosun will also present Liverpool issues as this will be the first time the Reds get to see him in action. The two more physical strikers could pose some threat to the Liverpool centre-backs, but the league meeting (which saw Everton shut out on offense outside of the late penalty) did not have Virgil van Dijk feature. This game will mark van Dijk's first in-league derby and with the addition of the in-form Tosun (three goals in the last four games) will make for an interesting tie.
When the Liverpool attack has been missing one of the main front three, it has occasionally looked a bit out of sync. With Danny Ings seemingly all but a lock to start, it will be interesting if the ex-Burnley man can, a, finally break his goal drought under Klopp, but also, b, work cohesively will whichever of the front men do get the start alongside him in attack. Ings' last goal was against Everton in Brendan Rodgers' last match in charge of Liverpool and an incredible amount of things have changed since then. If Ings can trouble the Everton defense and create chances, that will be phenomenal for his confidence and the team's progression.
Final Thoughts:
Liverpool under Klopp have not had the greatest results against Allardyce, however they have not been poor either. In order to get three points, maintaining focus ahead of an exciting tie in the week is essential. Everton were a bit poor defensively and Manchester City exposed them for three in the first half. If that sounds familiar, it is indeed exactly what this Liverpool side did to City. Expect Allardyce to pack his team in and attack on the counter or when convenient. Attack-minded wingers in Bolasie and Walcott have pace to give the Liverpool fullbacks trouble, but when shoved Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have risen up and then some to the challenge. If Liverpool can crack the Everton code, it will put them in a positive mindset for the midweek second leg, and I will be cautiously optimistic in my prediction.
Score Projection: Liverpool 2: Everton 0
Everton have the quality to put one past the Reds, but I fancy the Reds to continue their strong defensive performances and solve the Everton puzzle once and put a second past while they are still fragile.
I will be up bright and early for the game and Tweeting about it @RMABTweets before, during, and after. A game recap will be posted as well, which I will Tweet out. E-mail me at redsmaizeandblue@gmail.com for questions, thoughts, and suggestions.
Team News:
Plenty of important team news has been made apparent by manager Klopp in his pre-match preview. First, what we already knew. Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan, and Joe Gomez all remain out leaving the Liverpool defense shorthanded heading into the derby, as well as the second leg of the UCL Quarterfinals. These injuries will likely lead to a Lovren and van Dijk centre-back pairing for the second game in a row with Conor Masterson likely making the bench again. Also confirmed out is Adam Lallana who still seems to not have a time table for his return to fitness.
Now, the newest developments, the main of which being the fitness of Emre Can who it has been reported will miss the rest of the season. While Klopp has not gone that far in his press conferences, Can has been confirmed out for Saturday's derby clash as well as Tuesday's second leg. This injury opens the door for Jordan Henderson to assuredly start tomorrow, however with the captain suspended for the second leg of the quarterfinals Klopp is faced the dilemma of having just three fit centre-mids for the all-important tie.
Mo Salah's removal from the first leg of the quarterfinals was cause for concern, but talk surrounding his injury does not seem to be worth much more worry for Reds fans. Klopp has stated he will not rush the star winger back if he is not 100% for the derby, but this seems to be good news that may imply the Egyptian's involvement in Tuesday's match. With Salah potentially missing out, Klopp made the note that while he would not guarantee anything, the derby would be a good moment to give Danny Ings a start in what would be his first starting feature under the manager. The timing of this derby could permit young striker Dominic Solanke to perhaps feature as a starter as well.
Everton will expect to have star midfielder Idrissa Gueye back from a hamstring issue that left him out of the blue Merseyside team's starting eleven against Manchester City at last weekend. Aside from this, there is no immediate injury news from Everton as injuries to Mason Holgate, Glyfi Sigurdsson, and Eliaquim Mangala are all long-term issues.
Projected Liverpool Line-Up: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Ings, Firmino, Mane
Projected Everton Line-Up: Pickford; Coleman, Jagielka, Keane, Baines; Walcott, Davies, Gueye, Bolasie; Tosun, Calvert-Lewin
Previewing the Match:
While the third meeting of these two teams, this will be the first at Goodison Park as the previous two both occurred at Anfield with Everton drawing the league match-up but Liverpool getting the FA Cup victory off a Virgil van Dijk header. The Reds hold a 16-match unbeaten run on the Toffees and will attempt to carry this through another season.
With a vital second leg just two days after this match day, all eyes will be on the team selection of a short-handed Liverpool side. Youngsters have featured in first-team training throughout the week and speculation of a youngster being handed a surprise start has permeated the Liverpool fan base. Conor Masterson was named to the bench and seems to be the most probable candidate for the nod. What cannot be forgotten, however, is the continued hunt for a top four place. Chelsea has faltered off the path, however looking ahead this late in the season is dangerous and a local derby against a Sam Allardyce team is no time to start.
The team selection will be just as interesting for the Everton boss as well, and a key match-up looks to be the Everton attack against the Liverpool defense. Trent Alexander-Arnold is coming off the performance of his life as he neutralized Leroy Sane for the better part of 90 minutes. He will face another challenge in likely starter Yannick Bolasie, who made his return for Everton in their 2-0 win over Brighton. Bolasie troubled the defense in their last meeting but it will be interesting to see if Alexander-Arnold's stellar performance gives him the added confidence he needs to do the same to Bolasie.
If Dominic Calvert-Lewis does indeed start, all eyes will certainly be on him and his battles with the Liverpool defense. Calvert-Lewis drew what was a hotly debated penalty that ultimately led to Everton taking a point off Liverpool in the 1-1 early-season meeting between the two teams. Fellow front man Cenk Tosun will also present Liverpool issues as this will be the first time the Reds get to see him in action. The two more physical strikers could pose some threat to the Liverpool centre-backs, but the league meeting (which saw Everton shut out on offense outside of the late penalty) did not have Virgil van Dijk feature. This game will mark van Dijk's first in-league derby and with the addition of the in-form Tosun (three goals in the last four games) will make for an interesting tie.
When the Liverpool attack has been missing one of the main front three, it has occasionally looked a bit out of sync. With Danny Ings seemingly all but a lock to start, it will be interesting if the ex-Burnley man can, a, finally break his goal drought under Klopp, but also, b, work cohesively will whichever of the front men do get the start alongside him in attack. Ings' last goal was against Everton in Brendan Rodgers' last match in charge of Liverpool and an incredible amount of things have changed since then. If Ings can trouble the Everton defense and create chances, that will be phenomenal for his confidence and the team's progression.
Final Thoughts:
Liverpool under Klopp have not had the greatest results against Allardyce, however they have not been poor either. In order to get three points, maintaining focus ahead of an exciting tie in the week is essential. Everton were a bit poor defensively and Manchester City exposed them for three in the first half. If that sounds familiar, it is indeed exactly what this Liverpool side did to City. Expect Allardyce to pack his team in and attack on the counter or when convenient. Attack-minded wingers in Bolasie and Walcott have pace to give the Liverpool fullbacks trouble, but when shoved Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have risen up and then some to the challenge. If Liverpool can crack the Everton code, it will put them in a positive mindset for the midweek second leg, and I will be cautiously optimistic in my prediction.
Score Projection: Liverpool 2: Everton 0
Everton have the quality to put one past the Reds, but I fancy the Reds to continue their strong defensive performances and solve the Everton puzzle once and put a second past while they are still fragile.
I will be up bright and early for the game and Tweeting about it @RMABTweets before, during, and after. A game recap will be posted as well, which I will Tweet out. E-mail me at redsmaizeandblue@gmail.com for questions, thoughts, and suggestions.
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