It’s the end of an era at Goodison Park, folks. The final Merseyside derby at Everton’s historic home is upon us, and emotions are running as high as a Klopp touchline sprint. With Everton gearing up for their grand exit to Bramley-Moore Dock this summer, this clash with Liverpool carries extra weight—not just for nostalgia, but for the Premier League table, too.
Of course, the wait for this showdown has been longer than expected, thanks to Storm Darragh wreaking havoc back in December. But now, the stage is set for a match that could have serious consequences for both sides. Everton, led once again by the returning David Moyes, have clawed their way out of danger, winning three of their last four league games. A victory here would give them even more breathing room above the relegation zone—something unthinkable just weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have their eyes on a far shinier prize. Sitting six points ahead of Arsenal, the Reds can widen the gap at the top of the table and solidify their title ambitions with a win. They’ve been twiddling their thumbs waiting for this game in hand, but now, it’s crunch time.
Injury Nightmares on Both Sides
Sadly, neither squad is at full strength. Everton, in particular, are limping into this one—quite literally. Moyes will be pleased to have left-back Vitalii Mykolenko back in training after his FA Cup absence, but beyond that, the Toffees’ injury list reads like a tragic novel. Strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Youssef Chermiti, and Armando Broja? Out. Winger Dwight McNeil? Also out. Midfield enforcer Orel Mangala? Done for the season with a knee injury. Even captain Seamus Coleman remains unavailable, while Nathan Patterson remains a doubt.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are faring slightly better. Trent Alexander-Arnold is back in training after a thigh issue, and Curtis Jones is fit to feature. However, Joe Gomez won’t be joining the derby fray, as his hamstring has once again betrayed him. Tyler Morton is also out, but Jürgen Klopp will feel his squad is in decent shape ahead of this high-stakes encounter.
So, with history on the line, both teams will be desperate to sign off Goodison’s derby days with a bang. One side fighting for survival, the other battling for glory.
This article was updated 57 minutes ago
