Liverpool look set to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation this afternoon at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Giorgi Mamardashvili starts in goal behind a back four of Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, and Milos Kerkez. Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai will anchor the midfield, with Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister, and Florian Wirtz supporting Cody Gakpo up top.
This is the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and it comes at a time when Liverpool desperately need to prove, to themselves and the rest of the league, what they can actually do.
The Reds crashed out of the Champions League in midweek, losing their quarter-final second leg 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield. That 4-0 aggregate defeat hurts, and Arne Slot’s side now carry that frustration into one of English football’s most intense fixtures. Liverpool currently sit fifth in the Premier League with 52 points, holding a 15-10-7 record. Europe remains the goal, but the margin for error has suddenly narrowed.
Why does this lineup make sense for the derby?
Injuries have forced Slot’s hand in a few areas, even if the formation itself looks familiar. Defenders Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, goalkeeper Alisson, and midfielder Wataru Endo are all out. With Stefan Bajcetic, Joseph Gomez, and Hugo Ekitiké also on the injury list, Mamardashvili keeps his spot in goal while Frimpong continues at right-back. Kerkez, who has been a bright spot at left-back recently, starts on the opposite side.
The pairing of Gravenberch and Szoboszlai should give Liverpool the stability they need against an Everton side that thrives on high-energy pressing. Gravenberch has been Liverpool’s most reliable midfielder this season, keeping things calm on the ball and driving forward to break through lines.
Szoboszlai brings the work rate and stamina needed for a derby’s physical demands. In attack, the trio of Salah, Mac Allister, and Wirtz is Liverpool’s most creative setup. If they’re sharp from the kickoff, that combination is going to give Everton a long afternoon.
Mohamed Salah has managed over 2.5 shots in his last two league games, and his history in this fixture makes him the biggest threat on the pitch. Wirtz brings a spark of unpredictability that is hard to plan for, while Mac Allister is brilliant at finding those small gaps in the defence to pull the opposition out of position.
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A derby with more than just bragging rights
Everton sit just five points behind Liverpool, with both clubs fighting for European spots. That shift in the table makes this feel less like a traditional grudge match and more like a massive six-pointer. Liverpool are averaging 1.63 goals per game this season, the seventh-best in the league, with Salah and Gakpo leading the way on six goals each. The firepower is there, but their form away from Anfield is a worry.
Liverpool have lost four straight away games, dropping results at Galatasaray, Brighton, Manchester City, and PSG. Everton will be well aware of that slump and should come out confident. They’ve lost only once in their last five matches, and their recent home wins over Burnley and Chelsea were built on rock-solid defending.
Even so, Liverpool still have the individual quality to decide this game. Slot will expect Gakpo to lead the press from the front, while Salah and Wirtz look to stretch the defence and create room for Mac Allister to work his magic. The system relies on everyone working together, and in a derby, that motivation usually takes care of itself.
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Liverpool’s afternoon will likely come down to two things: whether Mamardashvili can lead a makeshift defence and whether the midfield can handle Everton’s pressure without falling apart. If they get those basics right, Liverpool have the class, especially with Salah and Wirtz, to settle what is bound to be a tense, important Merseyside derby.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Giorgi Mamardashvili – Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez – Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai – Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz – Cody Gakpo.
