The second Merseyside derby will take place at Anfield this Sunday, in a match that could define where both teams finish at the end of the season. Liverpool will be hoping to beat Everton to have a chance to finish above the Blues, whereas Everton will be hoping to keep the Reds adrift and keep their feint hopes of 5th spot alive.
Team News
Moyes revealed last week that Darron Gibson had a ‘chance’ of playing against Fulham and the Everton boss has said the same again ahead of the derby. Moyes has also said that captain Phil Neville won’t be fit to feature in any way.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is likely to play the same team that recently thrashed Newcastle 6-0. The home-team will be missing Sterling, Allen and Kelly from their squad through injury.
Threats
Steven Gerrard. Need I say more? No.
Jamie Carragher. It’s his last derby. Bound to score?
Looking in more depth at two other threats, Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho are likely to cause trouble amongst the Everton defence. Sturridge will be determined to show he can step up in the Anfield ranks and try to show that Suarez won’t be too heavily missed. Coutinho will be up for the battle, and will also provide that quality of dribbling and passing that could cut the Everton defence into two.
Predicted Liverpool Line Up
Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique
Lucas Gerrard
Downing Coutinho Henderson
Sturridge
Predicted Everton Line Up
Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
Gibson Osman
Mirallas Fellaini Pienaar
Anichebe
Match Officials
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistant referee: D England
Assistant referee: S Burt
Fourth official: M Atkinson