Liverpool v Everton team news and predicted line-ups: Gravenberch handed first Premier League start as shock Robertson replacement picked

Liverpool will renew hostilities with neighbours Everton for a highly-anticipated Merseyside derby this weekend, live on talkSPORT.

The Reds and the Toffees are once again battling at opposite ends of the Premier League with more than just bragging rights on offer.

Gravenberch has hit the ground running at his new club

Gravenberch has hit the ground running at his new clubCredit: Getty

Robertson will play no part after picking up an injury

Robertson will play no part after picking up an injuryCredit: Getty

Liverpool are currently fourth in the Premier League and have lost just one of their previous 25 Merseyside derbies.

But after a strong start to the season, the club picked up just one point from six before the break and need to return to winning ways.

In contrast, after little to show from their opening games, Everton have won two of their last three in the league.

Liverpool

Klopp has a number of major decisions to make for his starting XI after several serious injuries to key players.

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Andy Robertson is set for a long spell on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury suffered during Scotland’s game against Spain.

The simplest change would be a like-for-like swap with his deputy Kostas Tsimikas and that may indeed prove to be what Klopp does.

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But the Greek international has flattered to deceive this season in the Europa League and was directly at fault for Leicester’s opener at Anfield in Liverpool’s 3-1 Carabao Cup comeback win last month.

This may open the door for Joe Gomez to start at left-back instead, where he first broke into the Liverpool team under Brendan Rodgers.

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Gomez was assured when covering for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s recent hamstring injury and his sharper defensive skills may be needed against a counter-attacking Everton side.

His presence would also afford his England colleague the license to flourish in his inverted role and try and open up the Toffees.

Joel Matip has been favoured as the first-choice partner for captain Virgil van Dijk ahead of Ibrahima Konate, while summer signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have cemented their spots in Klopp’s three-man midfield.

Tsimikas is looking to take advantage of Robertson’s recent injuryCredit: AFP

Curtis Jones is still serving the second of his three-match suspension following his red card in the 2-1 defeat away at Tottenham.

Harvey Elliott was given the nod to replace him in the 2-2 draw at Brighton but was replaced at half-time by Ryan Gravenberch.

Former Bayern Munich star Gravenberch impressed once again off the bench and is likely to be handed his first Premier League start having not been chosen for international duty by the Netherlands.

In attack, Mohamed Salah will likely be flanked once again by Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.

Mac Allister struggled due to a lack of fitness during a 12:30 kick-off after an international breakCredit: TNT Sports

The latter duo were both rested by Klopp last month when they were away in South America on international duty ahead of a 12:30 kickoff.

Colombian winger Diaz and Uruguay striker Nunez both came off the bench in the 2-1 win away at Wolves but the derby will eliminate any additional travelling they will have to make and boost their chances of playing.

A lack of other options may also force Klopp’s hands with Cody Gakpo only just returning to training this week.

Diogo Jota is back from a one-match suspension and is capable of playing on the left or centrally should either Diaz or Nunez be unavailable.

Gravenberch is set to start his first Premier League game

Everton

The Toffees have a much more obvious idea of how they will line up, with Dele Alli, Seamus Coleman and Andre Gomes all sidelined.

Blues boss Dyche has opted for the same back five in his last four Premier League games headed up by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Jarrad Branthwaite has formed an impressive partnership with James Tarkowski flanked by Vitaliy Mykolenko and veteran Ashley Young.

Idrissa Gana Gueye was initially named in Dyche’s starting XI for the 3-0 win over Bournemouth but withdrew after suffering an injury in the warm-up.

The issue was only minor, however, and Gueye is expected to return to the heart of Everton’s midfield.

It’s been a grim start to the campaign for EvertonCredit: Getty

Amadou Onana was originally set to be the fall guy to drop out against Bournemouth prior to Gueye’s injury.

But the Belgian international is still often preferred to James Garner centrally in games away from home due to his physicality.

Former Manchester United starlet Garner scored on his first start in central midfield against the Cherries having had to play out wide for most of this season and could have done enough to change Dyche’s thinking.

The rest of his Dyche’s decision-making is fairly cut-and-dry, with Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil operating on the wings.

And Abdoulaye Doucoure has been relishing operating behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin again after the latter returned to full fitness.

Dyche has a big dilemma over who gets the nod in midfield

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Liverpool vs Everton: talkSPORT coverage

This Premier League clash is set to take place on Saturday, October 21 and kick-off at Anfield is scheduled for 12:30pm.

talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage from Merseyside, with Reshmin Chowdhury serving as your presenter.

Commentary will then come from Sam Matterface, ex-Reds midfielder Ray Houghton and former Toffees striker Kevin Campbell.

talkSPORT.com will also have a live blog to take you through the action.

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