Liverpool head to Goodison Park tonight to take on Everton in the Merseyside derby - so we simulated the clash on EA FC 24

Liverpool head to Goodison Park tonight to take on Everton in the Merseyside derby - so we simulated the clash on EA FC 24

Liverpool are in a "must-win" position for the rest of the Premier League season as they look to take the title race to the last day of the season starting with a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Merseyside Derby

Latest Liverpool injury news ahead of the Premier League clash against Everton

Liverpool are in a "must-win" position for the rest of the Premier League season as they look to take the title race to the last day of the season starting with a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Merseyside Derby

Latest Liverpool injury news ahead of the Premier League clash against Everton

The Reds boss has called for calm heads from his players in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park

The Reds boss has called for calm heads from his players in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park

Latest Liverpool news and gossip as the Reds continue their quest to win the Premier League title against rivals Arsenal and Manchester City

Latest Liverpool news and gossip as the Reds continue their quest to win the Premier League title against rivals Arsenal and Manchester City

Despite the need to be practically perfect in the five remaining games, Liverpool has a strong chance at the title due to its common rival being overworked and exhausted. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola recently expressed his anger towards broadcasters after being forced to play just 66 hours after its Champions League loss to Real Madrid.

The Spaniard went as far as to say that he will have to keep his star players “in the fridge” if his side wants to avoid fatigue ahead of another huge game that could swing the title towards any of the three teams in the running. Two of these stars are 27-year-old Rodri and 29-year-old Bernardo Silva who sent the side into the FA Cup final on Saturday.

"I wasn’t fine at all," Silva stated after the Madrid game. "It’s too much. It wasn’t a level field because the FA didn’t give us a chance to recover. It looks like they don’t care because we’ve said it many times."

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This is similar to Rodri’s comments in recent weeks in which he pleaded for a rest, stating he was 'tired' after appearing in over 40 games this season. "If a player doesn’t want to play then he’s not going to play," Guardiola said ruthlessly at the time, after which he started Matheus Nunes instead of the Spanish international.

In The Citizen's knockout game against Real Madrid, both Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne asked to come off before the end of 120 minutes. Haaland, in fact, only played a total of 90 minutes despite the game being crucial in the club's now-failed treble-chasing season.

It is clear that the scheduling has taken its toll on a City side that was not only the favorite for the Champions League but also leading the way in all of the competitions the side found itself in. Now after being knocked out of the EFL Cup by Newcastle in just the third round and kicked out of Europe by Madrid, the best the club can hope for is the double of the league and FA Cup.

Despite the side's fatigue, Guardiola’s side faces Brighton on Thursday which is a side it hasn’t lost to since May 2021. In fact, this is the only time the Seagulls have beaten City in its history. A loss, though, is not all-important in a title race; a draw could be all that is needed to help Liverpool to the title and Brighton held City to a 1-1 result just last season.

After Brighton, City faces Nottingham Forest, who has managed one draw in three meetings. Next is Wolves, who beat City in the reverse fixture, and then Fulham who has never beaten City in its history. The final two games are likely the hardest for Guardiola’s team as it faces Tottenham, which has won three of the last five league meetings, and West Ham, which despite its terrible record against City, has beaten many top-six sides this year.

Liverpool, along with fellow title contenders Arsenal, who just hammered Chelsea, will be keeping a keen eye on that side of Manchester over the last remaining games. Jürgen Klopp, however, along with his now almost fully replenished squad, will certainly be focused on the game ahead on Wednesday against Everton at Goodison Park.

The Merseyside derby means a lot for both the title race and the relegation battle, which Sean Dyche’s men will be aiming to avoid at all costs. A result here for Liverpool would put the club four points clear ahead of Thursday. That would come with the benefit of placing more pressure on a City side that could be just about ready to snap due to fatigue and exhaustion.

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Former Liverpool winger John Barnes has suggested that Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes should target three Premier League players from one club this summer. The Reds will be making plans ahead of the exit of Jürgen Klopp.

Barnes also believes that there should be a contingency plan in place in case Mohamed Salah leaves. Saudi Arabian clubs remain interested in the 31-year-old though it remains to be seen how interested he is in moving there.

"Marc Guéhi is a very good player. Guéhi is someone Liverpool should be looking at," Reds legend Barnes told Bettors. "Even the Palace attacking players like Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise are players Liverpool could be looking at also.

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"City are also said to be looking at Olise and Eze. Arsenal also. But if Salah was to go and Liverpool wanted to bring in someone to replace him, Eze and Olise are players that I like. Those two alongside Guéhi are ready to move up a level."

It would be a surprise if Salah were to depart but Barnes believes that the Egyptian could follow Klopp out of the exit door. He has a year left on his contract (as do Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold) and there has been no news on an extension just yet.

"Next season Liverpool are going to have a new manager and a new team. He (Salah) may want a new challenge," Barnes continued. "With Mo, who knows? It’s possible he could leave.

"If you look at Liverpool right now and the players that we actually have from an attacking and youth point of view, we are well prepared for anything. Mo is now 31 turning 32 so he may feel as though it’s time for something new. Of course we’d miss him but with the talent we have now, with Núñez, Elliott, Gakpo, and Díaz, we are set to cope if he does go."

Liverpool.com says: Guéhi, Eze and Olise are all really good players but whether they will be high up on Liverpool's radar this summer remains to be seen. Center-back should be a priority but there might be options with a higher ceiling than Guéhi who are available to go with rather than the England man.

Eze and Olise would cost a lot of money (the latter, The Guardian suggested last week, could be valued at around $81m/£65m/€76m) and there might be bigger priorities to sort out first. Liverpool certainly has some big decisions coming up.

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Latest next Liverpool manager news with Arne Slot already making his Jurgen Klopp feelings clear

Latest next Liverpool manager news with Arne Slot already making his Jurgen Klopp feelings clear

Everton boss Sean Dyche is set to receive a huge injury boost heading into the Merseyside derby against Liverpool on Wednesday. The Toffees will host the Reds at Goodison Park in what could prove to be a crucial clash in the Premier League title race.

Jürgen Klopp's side got back to winning ways last weekend with a 3-1 win against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Liverpool had previously slipped up against Crystal Palace, as the Eagles secured a 1-0 win at Anfield.

Derby day is now fast approaching and with the club currently sitting level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table, it will be one of the more nerve-racking meetings between the two sides. Liverpool fans will have one eye on the title race, while Everton will attempt to stretch the five-point gap on Luton Town in 18th to avoid relegation.

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Speaking ahead of the game during his press conference, Dyche commented on the fitness of Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin who missed the recent 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest due to an injury. "He’s [Calvert-Lewin] hopeful he’ll be back," he said. "We will wait and see till tomorrow but hopeful on that one."

The England international has five goals and one assist to his name across 22 starts in the top flight of English football this season. His presence in the squad would be a huge boost to Everton ahead of the clash, given the fact Beto will miss the fixture due to a head injury he picked up last weekend and the concussion protocols. Seamus Coleman is also sidelined.

Liverpool has also been ravaged by injury throughout the entire 2023/24 campaign, with Diogo Jota the latest player to pick up a fresh concern. The Portuguese international only returned from a lengthy knee injury on April 11 but is now set to miss an additional two weeks. Long-term absentees Ben Doak, Joël Matip and Thiago Alcântara will also miss the game.

Liverpool.com says: While Calvert-Lewin is not a ruthless goalscorer, he still provides the biggest threat out of all the Everton players. His return against Liverpool should be monitored closely by the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, though they should be capable of dealing with the former Sheffield United forward.

If Liverpool plays anything close to its best on Wednesday, it will win. But the question is whether the Fulham win was a true turning point during the vital run-in.

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Anthony Taylor was at the centre of a storm on Merseyside last weekend after denying three Nottingham Forest penalty appeals in their defeat to Everton

Anthony Taylor was at the centre of a storm on Merseyside last weekend after denying three Nottingham Forest penalty appeals in their defeat to Everton

Liverpool travel to Everton for a huge Merseyside derby meeting on Wednesday night, with both sides desperate for Premier League points for two hugely different reasons.

Everton vs. Liverpool

Premier League (34) | Goodison Park
April 24, 2024 | 8pm (BST)

The Reds steadied the ship with a 3-1 win at Fulham last Sunday, but they still likely need to win their last five league matches to have a chance of clinching the title.

Everton may be struggling this season and are still not out of the relegation fight, but form can be irrelevant in derbies and the home faithful will be ferocious.

Here’s all you need to know with kickoff approaching.

1. Only victory will do for Liverpool

Some derbies feel even bigger than others, and this is one of them.

Liverpool know that they can go four points clear of Man City with victory, albeit having played two games more, which should act as a major incentive.

While the Fulham win was a welcome one, there are still some doubts regarding the Reds’ form, and this will be a very different test.

Failure to win would surely spell the end of the title dream, but victory would be a big shot in the arm.

2. Who’s injured for Liverpool?

Diogo Jota is out of the midweek action after injuring his hip against Fulham, with Klopp revealing the Portuguese is expected to be sidelined for two weeks.

It is a bitter blow for Liverpool, with the winger arguably their most feared attacker on current form.

Conor Bradley is also absent, having suffered an ankle problem in the 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace – he’s not due back in training until the start of May.

Joel Matip, Thiago and Ben Doak are all long-term absentees.

3. Everton out to spoil the party

If Liverpool have enjoyed a wild ride in Jurgen Klopp‘s final season, Everton supporters will be desperate for a campaign of misery to come to an end.

The Blues have been affected by two different points deductions, putting them in real danger of relegation, and the takeover of the club still hasn’t gone through.

Sean Dyche’s men picked up a crucial 2-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, however, and they should now have enough to avoid the drop having put five more points on the board than Luton.

Every point still feels invaluable, though, and they would love nothing more than to damage Liverpool’s title chances.

4. Salah & Nunez to return?

With Liverpool’s injury woes easing overall, it is now a case of Klopp picking his strongest possible starting lineup at Goodison Park.

Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez were all left out at the weekend, and could all return.

Joe Gomez is an option in either full-back position, but in-form Trent Alexander-Arnold needs to start, while Cody Gakpo arguably deserves to keep his place.

Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez

5. Key Everton absentees

Everton have injuries going into the game, not least to Beto, with the striker unavailable after suffering a horrible head injury in the win over Forest.

Lewis Dobbin, Dele Alli and Nathan Patterson are all absent, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is in doubt but has not been completely ruled out by Dyche, unlike Seamus Coleman who will miss the derby.

Possible Everton XI: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Onana, Doucoure; Harrison, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin

6. Klopp’s special words on Trent

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Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Klopp heaped praise on Alexander-Arnold, following his free-kick heroics last weekend:

“Fantastic player from the first day, outstanding talent turned into an outstanding world-class footballer.

“It’s pretty rare as a manager to be part of such a journey for a long time. Trent never had a different manager, so it will be good for him to get new influences in the future, that’s definitely clear.

“But he can be quite happy with the steps he has made. What a good player he is – it’s crazy.

[…]

“Nothing bad to say about Trent, he is one of these stories that not a lot of clubs can really write, but he’s one people will talk about 20, 30, 40 years.

“That is really nice for a boy from West Derby, it’s probably the best you can achieve in life.”

7. Liverpool love a Goodison draw – please, not another!

There have been 12 goalless draws in Liverpool’s last 58 Premier League encounters with Everton, while 12 of the last 23 league meetings have finished in a draw.

Meanwhile, nine of the last 11 league derbies at Goodison have finished all-square, with five of the last nine being goalless.

Liverpool have drawn 13 times at Goodison in the Premier League – the most away to a club since 1992, along with Man City.

Frankly, Klopp’s men cannot afford another one this time around!

8. Did you know?

If Liverpool prevail on Wednesday, it will be their 100th win over Everton in all competitions – the Reds will also bring up 150 goals away to the Blues if they score three times.

If Salah scores twice, he will join Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s top scorer against Everton in the Premier League with nine goals.

Liverpool have now scored in their last 20 top-flight away fixtures, which is the second-longest run in their league history after a 21-game run in the Second Division between February 1955 and February 1956.

9. Andy Madley takes charge

Andy Madley has been confirmed as the referee for Wednesday’s match, in what will be his fifth Liverpool league game of the season.

The first was the 1-1 draw away to Luton, followed by the 2-1 victory at Palace – Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott scored late goals in those fixtures – before overseeing the 4-0 win over Bournemouth on the south coast.

Madley’s most recent Liverpool outing was the 4-1 win at home to Luton in February.

Meanwhile, David Coote is on VAR, having infamously missed Jordan Pickford’s challenge on Virgil van Dijk back in 2020, and Simon Hooper is the fourth official.

10. Follow the match with TIA

Everton vs. Liverpool is live on Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm (BST), with kickoff at Goodison at 8pm.

Henry Jackson will be nervously keeping you company on TIA’s live blog from 7.15pm, hoping to guide to through a vital win.

Come on you Reds!

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Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was in attendance for Liverpool's win over Fulham and has recently spoken about the Reds

Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was in attendance for Liverpool's win over Fulham and has recently spoken about the Reds