Liverpool predicted XI v Everton – Jurgen Klopp to go for broke in final Merseyside derby
Jurgen Klopp is predicted to make five changes to his Liverpool starting XI as he heads to Goodison Park for his final Merseyside derby as boss.
After Arsenal’s 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea at the Emirates on Tuesday (23 April) it leaves the Reds three points behind as they head to the game in hand at their Merseyside rivals 24 hours later but trailing by 13 on goal-difference.
Klopp already has to hope Manchester City will drop points if he is to end his nine years in charge at Anfield with a second Premier League crown, but if both his and Mikel Arteta’s sides win all their remaining games from here it will require a huge effort to rack up the score between now and 19 May.
Therefore Klopp is predicted to send out his highest-scoring forward line this season of Mohamed Salah (24) and Diogo Jota (15) either side of Darwin Nunez (18).
That would see Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz drop out from the 3-1 win at Fulham on Sunday (21 April), with Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch tipped to follow suit for Dominik Szoboszlai (seven goals this season) and Alexis Mac Allister (six), while Wataru Endo should keep his place at the base of the midfield to provide a platform for his two teammates.
Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez back in for Liverpool
Klopp rested Ibrahima Konaté at Craven Cottage so is predicted to bring him back in for Jarell Quansah in what is certain to be a hostile atmosphere created by the Evertonians.
The Frenchman will re-join the long-term first-choice back line of Virgil van Dijk flanked by Andy Robertson and, fresh from his outstanding show at Fulham, Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Alisson in goal.
Liverpool attempting to boost their goal-difference late in a title race might give some fans grim flashbacks of Luis Suarez in tears at Selhurst Park, but with just five games left there is little other option.
It is undoubtedly a risky plan in a fixture as volatile as the Merseyside derby, but while Chelsea’s performance against the Gunners was distinctly unhelpful to the Reds their 6-0 hammering of Everton last week (15 April) did at least show how to overwhelm Sean Dyche’s side.
The Toffees have been boosted since then by their controversial 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, but if nothing else that suggested Ashley Young might be the place to target if he starts again at right-back, having also been sent off in the first half of the reverse fixture on 21 October.
The title may be too far gone already but with nothing else left to fight for before Klopp’s departure – Arne Slot is now the favourite to replace him – it is now all or nothing in every league game.
In other Liverpool news, a new £50million-plus kit deal with Adidas is set to be announced.
For more Liverpool news, be sure to follow Liverpool News on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter).