Paul Gorst - Keita starts, Thiago rested
Liverpool can rarely have felt as confident heading into a Merseyside derby - even at Anfield. Everton have the worst away record in the Premier League and the Reds have not dropped a point at home since October.
Saturday also marks the fifth anniversary of Liverpool's last Premier League defeat at home in front of a full crowd.
But, with a Champions League semi-final against Villarreal to come next week, will Jurgen Klopp be tempted to rest one or two? I suspect that will be the case right throughout the spine of the side.
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Ibrahima Konate can come in for Joel Matip at the back with one eye on Wednesday's visit from Unai Emery's Yellow Submarine with Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk keeping their places. At left-back, Kostas Tsimikas can come in for Andy Robertson to give the tireless Scot a bit of a breather.
In midfield, as much as I'd like to see Thiago Alcantara try to bewitch Everton's midfield in the same way he did to Manchester United on Tuesday, I'm giving the Spanish schemer a rest ahead of Villarreal. Naby Keita comes into the side and I'm keeping Jordan Henderson in there with Fabinho too. The captain was sensational against the Blues at Goodison Park in December.
Up top, Diogo Jota is named down the middle with Luis Diaz dropping to the bench and Sadio Mane shuffling out on the left. Mohamed Salah, fresh from goals 29 and 30 of the season on Tuesday, once more starts on the right.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Jota, Mane.
Ian Doyle - One switch in defence as Jota returns in attack
The derby. And who doesn’t love the derby?
Well, apart from anyone who has ever been to one repeatedly.
Jurgen Klopp is likely to make changes for the Premier League visit of Everton today. But just how many is the interesting call.
The defence sees just the one switch for me. Ibrahima Konate comes in for Joel Matip to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back, while Alisson Becker is in goal and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson the full-backs.
Midfield sees a little alteration also. Fabinho and Jordan Henderson start, and while it’s tempting to stick with Thiago Alcantara, I’d throw Curtis Jones in there. Naby Keita can play in midweek.
Up top, Diogo Jota can replace Luis Diaz with Sadio Mane again down the middle and Mohamed Salah on the right.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Mane, Jota.
Richard Garnett - Jota returns to give Everton the Blues
With so much at stake for both sides, this is certainly not a fixture that can be taken lightly by the Reds, regardless of Everton's current lowly standing. Manchester United were swatted away by Liverpool in midweek but the Blues also beat them, so that is hardly a barometer for success currently.
With Alisson in goal as always, I'm picking a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and I'm making a change at left-back, bringing in Kostas Tsimikas and giving Andy Robertson a rest, ahead of the huge Champions League semi-final next week.
Midfield remains unchanged from the United match, with Fabinho at the base of a trio that includes captain Jordan Henderson on the right and Thiago Alcantara on the left.
Jurgen Klopp has an array of riches up top, but I'm only making one strategic change here. Mohamed Salah keeps his spot on the right, as does Luis Diaz on the opposite flank, who I am backing to give Everton serious problems. Sadio Mane has hit top form, but I'm holding him back in this one and giving Diogo Jota the nod.
Mane will be waiting in the wings to make an impact if Liverpool can't get the job done early doors. There is no need to rush back Roberto Firmino if his foot injury has not cleared up in time.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Jota, Diaz.
Charlotte Coates - Naby Keita to carry on fine form
It's a new day and another huge game for Liverpool to get their teeth into as Everton come to Anfield on Sunday afternoon with both sides at opposite ends of the Premier League table.
Who's going to be starting in goal for Liverpool on Derby Day? Of course, Alisson Becker will be in between the sticks with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson carrying on at full-back.
In the heart of the defence will be Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip with Liverpool's defensive midfielder Fabinho in front protecting the backline.
Tuesday night's win over Manchester United produced one of the greatest midfield displays we've seen in recent years in the Premier League by Thiago Alcantara and he will continue in the middle of the pitch alongside Naby Keita - who was fantastic in the Reds' FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City.
Up front, Mohamed Salah will start and look to add to his 22 goals in the Premier League this season alongside Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Thiago; Mane, Jota, Salah.
Mark Wakefield - Ibrahima Konate can cause Everton problems
It’s a tricky team to predict, given today’s match and the one on Wednesday night against Villarreal are important in their own right.
Regardless, Alisson Becker is still going to be used between the posts as ever. The same will be said for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.
I’ve gone with Ibrahima Konate to start against Everton today. His aerial threat should cause their defence problems from set-pieces, and it allows Joel Matip a rest for the midweek clash against Villarreal.
Into midfield and you can’t not have Thiago Alcantara in there from now on. Fabinho is also a must, and I think today could be a good game for Naby Keita to start with his energy and pressing ability.
Up front Mohamed Salah is also a certain starter on the right wing, which leaves Diogo Jota as the centre forward and Sadio Mane on the left.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Thiago; Salah, Jota, Mane.
Tom Cavilla - Milner could be ideal midfield option for match of this nature
It will be interesting to see the starting-eleven named by Jurgen Klopp for this afternoon’s match at Anfield. With Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final tie on the horizon, it would not be a major surprise to see a new key players rested ahead of Villarreal’s visit to Merseyside. Liverpool should fancy their chances of three points, even with a weakened side on show, though can’t assume it will be a certainty due to the unpredictable nature of derby matches.
Alisson is one player who won’t be dropped out of the starting-eleven for this fixture as he looks to continue his fine form shown throughout this season. Elsewhere at the back, changes could well be on the agenda. I would be tempted to give Andy Robertson and Joel Matip rests and start with Kostas Tsimikas and Ibrahima Konate respectively.
There is more license to switch things up in the middle of the pitch and I would be tempted to do so, handing a start to James Milner – a player with no shortage of experience in matches of great importance against rival sides. A fixture that has often boiled out of control in recent times, there is no better individual to handle heated moments than Milner due to his vast experiecne. I would rest both Fabinho and Thiago for Wednesday night, with Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita completing the midfield three.
In attack, Mohamed Salah could do with some time out of the team to recharge ahead of a busy period – but this is the last thing the Egyptian will want to be an option. Luis Diaz may drop to the bench, however, with an eye on Wednesday.
In what could be Divock Origi’s final appearance against Everton in a Liverpool shirt, it would be fitting to see the Belgian deployed late on as he looks to add to his record of five goals in eight appearances versus the Toffees in a Reds shirt.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas; Henderson, Milner, Keita; Salah, Jota, Mane.
