Liverpool vs Everton news: Rampant Reds can sink Blues and stay on track for quadruple

Dave Tindall
22 April 2022

Fresh from blasting Manchester United 4-0, Liverpool can add to Everton’s relegation worries with a convincing win in Sunday’s Merseyside derby.

The big games keep coming thick and fast for Liverpool and this weekend's assignment in their quest for an unprecedented quadruple is a Merseyside derby against Everton.

Liverpool continued their pursuit of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League by playing some sublime football in a 4-0 rout over a poor Manchester United in midweek.

And now they take on an Everton side which has accumulated a paltry six points on the road this season.

The Toffees sit just a single point above the relegation zone following Burnley's victory over Southampton on Thursday night.

When: Sunday, April 24, 16:30 BST

Where: Anfield

How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event

Follow this game via our score centre

Who is the ref for Liverpool v Everton

Stuart Attwell is the man in the middle at Anfield.

The Warwickshire official has refereed Liverpool on four occasions this season, including the Carabao Cup final, and booked just a single Reds player each time.

He's not been a lucky omen for Everton, the Blues losing 4-0 (Crystal Palace) and 5-0 (Tottenham) on the last two occasions they encountered him.

Season stats 2021/22: All matches (24), yellows (79), red (1), penalties (6)

Recent form

It's seven wins from the last nine in all competitions for Liverpool after they hammered Manchester United 4-0 at Anfield on Wednesday night.

That followed on from their 3-2 FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester City.

In their last five games, the Reds have fired in 15 goals and that includes five in two against Pep Guardiola's men so they're breaching even the toughest defences.

Worryingly for Everton, Liverpool have won every home Premier League game in 2022 and they've conceded just once in that run.

Everton grabbed a late point at home to Leicester thanks to Richarlison and beat Manchester United 1-0 before that.

That's decent enough form but their big troubles have come on the road.

Just six points from a possible 45 is appalling - the worst in the top-flight as you might expect - and they've suffered defeat in each of their last six Premier League games away from Goodison.

Liverpool and Everton players in form

Sadio Mane is in his best form of the season and a double in the FA Cup semi and another at home to Man Utd (along with an assist) made it five goals in his last five games.

He needs just one more to make it 20 for the season in all comps.

Mo Salah bounced back to form with a brace against United and set up the opener for Luis Diaz, another player in great form since his January move from Porto.

Thiago Alcantara was off the scale in the Man Utd game while, if he starts, Ibrahima Konate has headed in three goals in his last three games.

Everton have been poor across the board but local lad Anthony Gordon has at least shown some fight and enterprise and scored the winner at home to United.

Alex Iwobi has certainly been putting in a shift of late while Jordan Pickford has also been a key figure in Everton's last couple of games.

Last three meetings

Everton 1-4 Liverpool (December 01, 2021)

After losing the previous Merseyside derby, Liverpool took revenge in style, outclassing their opponents with a resounding victory at Goodison.

Jordan Henderson put the visitors 1-0 up inside 10 minutes and then set up Salah to add a second with less than 20 minutes on the clock.

Demarai Gray pulled one back before the break but Liverpool heaped more misery on former boss Rafa Benitez as Salah added his second on 64 minutes before Diogo Jota fired a fourth 11 minutes from time.

Liverpool 0-2 Everton (February 20, 2021)

Liverpool were rocking after three successive home defeats to Burnley, Brighton and Manchester City. There would be two more after Everton became the fourth side to leave with all three points.

Richarlison put the visitors in front after just three minutes when being set up by James Rodriguez but Toffees stopper Pickford had to be at his best to keep Liverpool at bay.

Everton got the win they craved when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was fouled in the box and Gylfi Sigurdsson fired home the penalty seven minutes from time to give the Toffees a first derby win in 24 attempts.

Everton 2-2 Liverpool (October 17, 2020)

In a dramatic and highly-eventful early-season Merseyside derby, Everton fought back to claim a draw that left them three points clear at the top of the table.

Mane gave Liverpool the lead after just three minutes before Pickford's wild lunge at Virgil van Dijk ended the Dutchman's afternoon and, as it emerged later, his season too.

Michael Keane headed home a 19th-minute corner to level at 1-1 before Salah volleyed home after 72 minutes to put the Reds on course for the win.

But there were further twists. Calvert-Lewin headed home a superb equaliser on 81, Richarlison was sent off for a reckless challenge on Thiago and Mane's injury-time strike was ruled out after a lengthy wait for a VAR decision.

Past 10 meetings

Liverpool wins: 5

Draws: 4

Everton wins: 1

Liverpool scored: 15

Everton scored: 8

Manager's thoughts

Jurgen Klopp on whether there is more riding on this Merseyside derby than usual: "Maybe yes, but these derbies never lacked intensity, to be honest. I love intensity in football, I love physicality in football but just in the rulebook and just make sure that we all stick to that, don't go over the top, these kind of things

"I just want to have a very intense, very physical and legally-aggressive football game but not more, because we play games after the derby as well - we should not forget, all of us. That's all.

"But apart from that, it was always very intense and, yes, this one is important for both, but I cannot remember when it was not important for us. I can't remember."

Everton boss Frank Lampard wants fight and desire: "It is a huge fixture and I am very proud to be managing this football club and going into a game this size.

"I have watched it from afar many times and marvelled at the atmosphere and history of the game, so I am very happy to be involved. This game is a one-off, it brings different energy.

"The reality is, we are going up against one of the best teams in the world, on current form. We will prepare as we always do, with an idea of how we want to play. I expect passion, fight and desire, there is not a gameplan that will work without those things. Especially in a game of this size and type."

Predicted Liverpool v Everton teams

Klopp will continue to juggle with the games coming thick and fast but he has options everywhere.

The only doubt for the Reds is striker Roberto Firmino, who has a foot problem but otherwise Klopp has a full squad to choose from.

Liverpool host Villarreal on Wednesday so that could mean a rest for a couple of big names, with Ibrahima Konate, Diaz and Thiago perhaps being held back for that one.

Liverpool celebrate vs Man City in FA Cup semi-final

Possible Liverpool starting line-up: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Henderson, Fabinho, Keita, Mane, Jota, Salah.

For Everton, Calvert-Lewin remains sidelined with a quadriceps problem.

Donny van de Beek and Andre Gomes are doubts due to groin strains so it's likely that Fabian Delph will be the anchor in midfield for Everton.

Possible Everton starting line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Mykolenko, Mina, Godfrey, Delph, Allan, Iwobi, Gordon, Gray, Richarlison.

Liverpool v Everton prediction

Everton got their first win at Anfield since 1999 when taking victory in this fixture last season but that was then and this is now.

Liverpool are steamrollering teams and the Toffees have been so poor on the road this season that it's hard to imagine anything other than a convincing home win.

The Reds are averaging three goals per game in their last five outings so let's take them to keep up that ratio and score a 3-0 win.