MatchThe opposition lowdown: Everton

Recent form

Everton have won each of their last three top-flight matches, chalking up victories against Tottenham Hotspur (3-2), Brighton & Hove Albion (1-0) and Leicester City (4-0).

After that run, the Blues sit 16th in the table with 26 points from 23 games.

They do, however, come in to this fixture, like Liverpool, having been knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup. The Toffees – back under the management of former boss David Moyes – were beaten 2-0 at home to AFC Bournemouth in the fourth round on Saturday.

Key men

Iliman Ndiaye is Everton’s leading scorer in the Premier League so far this season with six goals, while Beto, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dwight McNeil have each provided three.

McNeil and Ashley Young top the assists chart with three apiece.

Only Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels (10) can better Blues goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s tally of nine clean sheets in the division this term.

Team news

Moyes is hopeful of having Vitalii Mykolenko available for the visit of Liverpool after a minor calf complaint for the full-back.

The home side will, though, continue to be without Armando Broja, Calvert-Lewin, Youssef Chermiti, Seamus Coleman, McNeil and Nathan Patterson.

Previous meetings

The teams last clashed in April 2024, with Everton clinching a 2-0 league victory over Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool at Goodison Park. Jarrad Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin were on the scoresheet.

Earlier in that campaign, the Reds had won the Anfield derby by the same scoreline, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice in the second half.

What they said

Everton boss Moyes

On the emotion involved in this being the final Goodison Park derby…

“I’ve been here many years but it was a while back since I had my last Merseyside derby. They have always been difficult games, I have to say, over my years – Liverpool have always been a tough opponent. But at Goodison, it always felt a lot easier because we had the support behind us and we had a fantastic crowd, and I think this game will be no different. Strange it was a rearranged fixture which obviously I’ve had the chance now to come and manage.”

On Arne Slot’s impact at Liverpool…

“They had a fantastic coach in Jürgen Klopp, who made Liverpool so good over many years. You saw how often they were competing with Manchester City for titles and cups for many years. I think most people would be amazed at how well Arne Slot has done, if I’m being honest, coming in after Jürgen. But I have to say, he has done a great job, hasn’t he? Hard to say when you’re sitting in this seat, but he has done a great job, he looks as if he has done it very smoothly and he has got the team playing well.”

Pre-match stats

• Everton have led 3-0 at half-time in both of their last two Premier League home games (versus Tottenham and Leicester).
• Moyes won three of his 22 Premier League Merseyside derbies in charge of Everton between 2002 and 2013 (seven draws, 12 defeats). This is his first match against Liverpool as Toffees boss since a goalless draw at Anfield in May 2013.
• Nine of the last 12 Premier League encounters between the Blues and the Reds at Goodison Park have ended level.
• Everton last won consecutive league Merseyside derbies during the 1984-85 campaign.