The Merseyside derby on Saturday at noon will mark Liverpool’s return to Premier League action, so this weekend is a huge one.
Premier League (9), Liverpool vs. Everton, Anfield, October 21, 2023, 12.30 p.m. (BST)
After the break for international play, the Reds will host their 16th-place blue neighbours for what looks to be another ferocious match at Anfield.
The team led by Jurgen Klopp will be eager to bounce back from the two disappointing setbacks that came before the break and reclaim their previous winning mentality.
The following are the top ten things you should be aware of before Liverpool vs. Everton.
1. Team News
We received the news we dreaded on Friday when the manager informed us that Andy Robertson would need surgery and would probably be sidelined until 2024.
Having “once” practised with the team, Cody Gakpo has a chance to play, but Klopp stressed we will “have to see” if he is available.
Ben Doak has a “little muscle thing” that keeps him out of the running, and Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago are still sidelined.
2. Coote revisiting VAR
The person who was on VAR duty for the notorious Virgil van Dijk and Thiago injuries is back this weekend, just in case you thought things could only get worse with refs.
At Stockley Park, David Coote is the official in charge after serving in the same capacity for the 2-2 tie in the reverse matchup back in 2020.
It should be entertaining because he is the one who ‘forgot’ to look at Jordan Pickford challenging Van Dijk for a red card.
Craig Pawson has been assigned the role of on-field referee.
3. Everton Team News
Dele Alli, Seamus Coleman, and Andre Gomes will all be out for the Blues this weekend, according to Sean Dyche’s pre-game news conference.
Idrissa Gana Gueye, a Senegalese international who missed Everton’s 3-0 victory over Bournemouth prior to the break, is also expected to return, he added.
4. 243 and counting
The Merseyside Derby will be played for the 243rd time on Saturday. For some reason, this is one of the few games that always has a count associated with it.
The Reds have won 98 games throughout that span, while also losing 67 games and drawn 77 more.
Only a year after Liverpool’s founding, the two teams first “unofficially” met, and inevitably, it ended in contentious circumstances.
5. ANOTHER early start
Klopp’s early season concerns regarding the number of 12.30pm games his team is scheduled for following international breaks don’t appear to be getting any attention any time soon.
This weekend’s lunchtime match between the Reds and Everton has been rescheduled to the same time frame as the match between Man City and City following the November internationals.
The amount of cards issued to Liverpool is more than twice as many as any other team in the league, and they will once more have to deal with a 48-hour turnaround for his South American players.
6. The Anfield hoodoo of Everton
While he hasn’t had it entirely his own way at Goodison Park in this match, the manager has experienced great joy when the Blues have visited Anfield while he has been in charge.
Since Klopp’s appointment as manager in 2015, Liverpool has won eight of the ten meetings between the teams at Anfield, scoring 21 goals and giving up seven.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Everton finally ended their lengthy wait for an away derby victory in 2021, but they haven’t defeated the Reds in front of supporters at Anfield since 1999.
7. Never end till it’s finished
More than any other team in the division, Liverpool has defeated Everton five times in stoppage time in the Premier League alone.
It’s understandable that players like Ronny Rosenthal, Gary McAllister, Dirk Kuyt, Sadio Mane, and Divock Origi detest this match so badly since they have all had the pleasure of sealing the Blues’ doom in the final seconds.
8. Blues in peril once more?
Our blue neighbours appear to be headed for relegation for the third consecutive season.
Everton has had two seasons where they were saved in the closing weeks, but a sluggish start after a fortunate schedule has put them in jeopardy once more.
On Saturday, the Reds have the chance to make matters worse as Dyche’s team begins what appears to be a difficult stretch after the break.
9. A villainous hero?
Even though Alexis Mac Allister has yet to score for the Reds, he has an impressive goal record against the Blues.
The World Cup champion has three goals in his previous three games against Everton and could follow Van Dijk and Gakpo from the Netherlands in becoming the first Liverpool player to score in the Merseyside Derby.
10. Continue to stick with us!
We have coverage of the events at Anfield this weekend if you’re seeking for similar coverage.
This Is Anfield’s live blog, which you can access directly from our website starting 45 minutes before kickoff, will allow you to follow the Merseyside derby in real time.
Up the Reds as we begin again after another epic contest!