Everton vs. Liverpool: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Online and TV Info
The Merseyside derby, one of the most anticipated fixtures of any Premier League season, is set to take place this weekend, with Everton hosting Liverpool as both teams look to build on improved recent form.
Everton still linger in the bottom half of the table after a slow start to their campaign, though a win last time out against Crystal Palace boosted both their confidence and hopes of making a re-entry to the top 10.
Liverpool will go into the game with less recovery time as they had a midweek FA Cup replay against Bolton Wanderers to navigate, but the atmosphere and intensity of the derby will ensure they are ready to go at full power again.
Date: Saturday, February 7
Time: 17:30 p.m. GMT/12:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK) and NBC Sports Live Extra (US)
Live Online: Sky Go (UK)/NBC Sports (US)
Predicted Formations
For Everton, nothing other than a continuation of their usual 4-2-3-1, which they have utilised for most of the season despite Roberto Martinez's penchant for previously switching systems regularly. BBC Sport report that James McCarthy is back in the squad after injury, while Aaron Lennon could also feature.
The Blues have struggled at times to get the best out of Romelu Lukaku, but with three goals in his last five games, he's in a good moment and scored twice in this fixture last term.
Liverpool won't be expected to alter their new 3-4-2-1 shape which has seen them play exciting, attacking football once again.
A couple of changes from the midweek Cup win could be expected in midfield, with Adam Lallana and Joe Allen two of those expected to make way, but Emre Can's brilliant performance—both from defence and midfield—highlight his continuing growth. It might still be too soon for Daniel Sturridge to start, but the striker came off the bench to net a last-minute equaliser in this game last season.
Players to Watch
Everton: Muhamed Besic
Everton will have to be very solid not just in defence, but particularly in the areas in front of the back four, if they are to keep Liverpool's attack quiet. The burden of responsibility will largely fall on the shoulders of Bosnia-Herzegovina international Muhamed Besic, who has impressed at times this term with a string of aggressive and clever performances.
He'll have to close down the spaces, ensure that Liverpool's two attacking midfielders don't have room to operate in and also use his fine passing range to start attacks from deep to get his own team going.
Besic certainly won't shirk the physical side of the derby, but both these teams like to play offensive, possession football, and he fits the bill there, too.
Liverpool: Philippe Coutinho
The Brazilian playmaker has been superb of late, creating plenty of chances for team-mates from his roving attacking midfield slot behind the striker.
Coutinho is full of confidence, is showing far greater endurance in matches and can make a difference throughout the 90 minutes—as he showed with his injury-time winner against Bolton in the Cup.
Coutinho will be one of the two trying to find pockets of space behind and either side of Besic and, if he's not closed down, has the capacity to unlock Everton's defence with his through passes, terrific vision and no doubt a few shots of his own.
Key Battle: How much do Everton's full-backs gamble on attacking?
Liverpool's wide midfielders fulfil dual roles in this system: tracking back to offer a positional block, rather than a true aggressive defensive option when out of possession, but also keeping as high up the field as possible in wide areas to stretch opposition defences and provide an out-ball.
Everton's two full-backs, Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines, tend to be offensive-minded themselves, but if they find themselves high up the field when Liverpool win the ball back in midfield, the tremendous pace of Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno could really give them problems in breaking into space behind them.
On the flip side, if Baines and Coleman don't get forward, Everton can lack penetration in delivery and in off-the-ball runners.
source: bleacherreport
Predicted Formations
For Everton, nothing other than a continuation of their usual 4-2-3-1, which they have utilised for most of the season despite Roberto Martinez's penchant for previously switching systems regularly. BBC Sport report that James McCarthy is back in the squad after injury, while Aaron Lennon could also feature.
The Blues have struggled at times to get the best out of Romelu Lukaku, but with three goals in his last five games, he's in a good moment and scored twice in this fixture last term.
Liverpool won't be expected to alter their new 3-4-2-1 shape which has seen them play exciting, attacking football once again.
A couple of changes from the midweek Cup win could be expected in midfield, with Adam Lallana and Joe Allen two of those expected to make way, but Emre Can's brilliant performance—both from defence and midfield—highlight his continuing growth. It might still be too soon for Daniel Sturridge to start, but the striker came off the bench to net a last-minute equaliser in this game last season.
Players to Watch
Everton: Muhamed Besic
Everton will have to be very solid not just in defence, but particularly in the areas in front of the back four, if they are to keep Liverpool's attack quiet. The burden of responsibility will largely fall on the shoulders of Bosnia-Herzegovina international Muhamed Besic, who has impressed at times this term with a string of aggressive and clever performances.
He'll have to close down the spaces, ensure that Liverpool's two attacking midfielders don't have room to operate in and also use his fine passing range to start attacks from deep to get his own team going.
Besic certainly won't shirk the physical side of the derby, but both these teams like to play offensive, possession football, and he fits the bill there, too.
Liverpool: Philippe Coutinho
The Brazilian playmaker has been superb of late, creating plenty of chances for team-mates from his roving attacking midfield slot behind the striker.
Coutinho is full of confidence, is showing far greater endurance in matches and can make a difference throughout the 90 minutes—as he showed with his injury-time winner against Bolton in the Cup.
Coutinho will be one of the two trying to find pockets of space behind and either side of Besic and, if he's not closed down, has the capacity to unlock Everton's defence with his through passes, terrific vision and no doubt a few shots of his own.
Key Battle: How much do Everton's full-backs gamble on attacking?
Liverpool's wide midfielders fulfil dual roles in this system: tracking back to offer a positional block, rather than a true aggressive defensive option when out of possession, but also keeping as high up the field as possible in wide areas to stretch opposition defences and provide an out-ball.
Everton's two full-backs, Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines, tend to be offensive-minded themselves, but if they find themselves high up the field when Liverpool win the ball back in midfield, the tremendous pace of Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno could really give them problems in breaking into space behind them.
On the flip side, if Baines and Coleman don't get forward, Everton can lack penetration in delivery and in off-the-ball runners.
source: bleacherreport
