Everton vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League team news and line-ups ahead of final Merseyside derby at Goodison – UK Times

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz

Everton XI: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner, Doucoure; Lindstrom, Ndiaye, Beto

The last three meetings have ended 2-0, with Liverpool winning twice and Everton once.

The Merseyside derby has produced 23 red cards during the Premier League era, the most of any fixture in the division.

Everton are aiming to win consecutive Merseyside league derbies for the first time since 1985.

Victory over the Reds last April was their first Merseyside league derby win at home in 13 attempts since October 2010 (D3, L9).

“We’ve always been chasing Liverpool, probably no more so than now,” he said.

“I think the gap between the two teams at the moment is probably as big as it’s been for a long time.

“It’s something I have to try and bridge and start bringing the two clubs closer together. I certainly need to bring my club closer to their club if I can.

“There’s a gulf between what’s going on (regarding transfer comparisons) and everybody’s aware of the situation here and the difficulty.

“But Everton had a great result against Liverpool last year (winning 2-0 in April) so that’s the way football works.

“I’ve actually seen a bit of unpredictability in the Premier League this year with some of the results, so we have to go out there and try to turn the result around and make sure that we’re the winners.”

David Moyes won just three of his 22 Premier League Merseyside derbies in his first stint in charge of Everton between 2002 and 2013 (D7, L12).

Can he secure his fourth win tonight?

David Moyes accepts Everton have to find a way to bridge the “gulf” between them and the Liverpool squad in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

The 122nd and final encounter against their Stanley Park neighbours sees one of the widest gaps between the two teams, with the Reds looking to go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and their hosts 30 points behind, albeit nine clear of the bottom three.

Everton’s net spend over the last decade is around £300million, most of that excess coming in the early years of the chaotic reign of former owner Farhad Moshiri, but recent seasons have seen a tightening of belts as the club struggled – and failed – to comply with profitability and sustainability rules.

Liverpool have spent over £580m during that time but have been rewarded with Premier League and Champions League titles, in addition to an FA Cup and two League Cups.

“For me it is not about psychology. For me it is about having nine points or six points, that is the difference, [of a] lead against teams who are able to win so many games in a row. So leave out psychology, it is just going to be crucial to have so many points as possible because the teams we face are able to win every single game in the Premier League.

“In the first half of the season, I said many times, judge the league table after 19 games but the thing is, Arsenal now played one more, but if you look at the games they already had [twice] – City, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Brighton, I think – so they have had quite a lot of teams that are doing really well so that is why it is important to try to extend the lead tomorrow. That is not going to be easy, obviously.”

Arne Slot believes that taking a nine-point lead in the Premier League wouldn’t strike a psychological blow to Liverpool’s title rivals – but could prove crucial as he eyed Arsenal’s run-in.

League leaders Liverpool play their game in hand against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday with the chance to go nine points ahead of Arsenal and 12 clear of third-place Nottingham Forest.

And it is the start of five league games in 15 days, with a rearranged trip to Aston Villa, brought forward from March because Liverpool are in the Carabao Cup final, now set for next Wednesday and meaning that Slot’s side could move up to 15 points clear of the Gunners if they beat Unai Emery’s team.

But the Dutchman is aware that Arsenal finished last season strongly and feels they are capable of going on an extended winning run.