How Everton and Liverpool could line-up in the derby

7:20am on Friday 16th October 2020
By Martin Macdonald

Liverpool and Everton will do battle in perhaps one of the most hotly anticipated Merseyside derbies in years on Saturday.

There is always a level of gravitas to the derby, but things have turned up a notch heading into this one as it is Everton, not Liverpool, who are currently top of the table after the opening four matches.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have been superb, winning four out of four games so far and averaging three goals per game.

After a period of languid football under Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, and Marco Silva, the Toffees are actually great fun to watch again, revitalised largely due to the impact made by new signing James Rodriguez.

Everton: Squad, FC Ratings, Matches, Formations

Liverpool: Squad, FC Ratings, Matches, Formations

The former Madrid star played two games for Colombia in the international break, but despite the travel he is expected to start this one. Allan and Andre Gomes are also set to return after missing the win against Brighton.

Yerry Mina picked up an injury away with Colombia which Everton are still assessing. Should he miss out, it could allow Ancelotti to give a debut to Ben Godfrey.

In Liverpool's last match they were destroyed 7-2 by Aston Villa which will still be playing on the minds of the players - and of the German himself.

They have been boosted by the return to training of both Thiago and Sadio Mane, though, with the pair having completed their quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus.

Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita are available too after tests revealed a negative result for those two.

Jordan Henderson could return to the starting XI after recovering from injury to feature for England, potentially at the expense of Gini Wijnaldum.

The Reds continue to be without Alisson, with Adrian expected to again deputise for the Brazilian.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain again misses out with a knee injury.