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For the first time in 16 years, the Merseyside Derby will face two teams seeking a place in the Champions League.
Premier League champions Liverpool have suffered a recent slump in the league and are currently in sixth place, one place above City rivals Everton, who are enjoying a promising revival under Carlo Ancelotti.
With three points separating Merseyside rivals ahead of Saturday night’s clash, Sportsmail put together a combined Liverpool-Everton XI from those available to play this weekend …
GOALKEEPER – Alisson (Liverpool)
Perhaps the most difficult position to call. Both Merseyside clubs have seen their first-pick goalkeepers go through a rough patch lately.
Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson had a tough fortnight when he gifted Manchester City with two goals at Anfield in the Reds’ 4-1 loss to Pep Guardiola’s side, before confusion with new signing Ozan Kabak gave Leicester City three points last weekend.
Meanwhile, Jordan Pickford’s problems between the sticks continued Wednesday night as he let Bernardo Silva’s shot pass through his palms, the latest in a catalog of errors this season for England’s number one.
But Alisson’s performance and his clean sheet midweek against RB Leipzig reminded both Liverpool fans and goalkeeper critics that the 28-year-old remains the best blocker in Merseyside.
But given the level of the two goalkeepers in recent weeks, there may be plenty of goals on offer this weekend at Anfield.
RIGHT – Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Alexander-Arnold was involved in 17 Premier League goals last season, including 13 assists, but the 22-year-old has been involved in just four this period as we move into the second half of the campaign.
The England international may not be reaching the heights of last season, but Alexander-Arnold has provided several reminders this season of his talents on this Liverpool side.
The Liverpool right-back shone against the Spurs late last month, scoring one and assisting another in perhaps his best performance of the season to date.
Jurgen Klopp will hope his star defender can step up in another great game as the Reds look to move into the top four.
Everton options Seamus Coleman and Mason Holgate have played well this season, but have a long way to go to meet Alexander-Arnold standards.
CENTER-BACK – Michael Keane (Everton)
Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton is an excellent striker, but he is also very difficult to break. The last characteristic has to do in part with Michael Keane’s good work as a center midfielder.
The 28-year-old is playing in the best years of his career and his displays show it. Keane has made 92 successful clearances in the top flight so far this season, the eighth highest total of any top flight player in England.
The Toffees man looks confident in the back and is well on his way to being a point man for both Everton and England in what appears to be an important 2021 for Keane’s club and country.
With Yerry Mina suffering an injury against Manchester City on Wednesday night, Keane’s leadership skills and defensive cunning are more important than ever.
CENTRAL – Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Many were surprised when the Liverpool captain was recruited as an impromptu central defender for the visit to Southampton earlier in the season, but Henderson’s new role seems like a master play by Klopp.
The Reds captain appears to have been playing there for most of his career and his role at the back eased the nightmare of Liverpool’s recent defensive injuries.
The 30-year-old is reliable at the rear due to his serious approach, while his vocal skills as a captain help propel Liverpool forward.
Henderson’s qualities are definitely missed in Liverpool’s midfield, but the quality possessed by last year’s champions there means the Reds captain can exert his influence from another position.
LEFT-BACK – Andy Robertson (Liverpool)
Andy Robertson vs Lucas Digne has been a close competition in the battle for Merseyside’s best left defender.
But the consistency of the Scottish international, coupled with the fact that Digne has spent most of the season injured or playing in left midfield, means the Liverpool player gets the nod in our team eleven.
The full-back’s attacking qualities remain an important outlet for Klopp’s Liverpool, and other Premier League teams are still working on how to reduce the 26-year-old’s influence on Liverpool’s attacking game.
Robertson may have more goal appearances to show his dominance in the left-back department if Liverpool had been better in recent weeks.
CENTRAL MIDDLE FIELD – James Rodríguez (Everton)
Injuries may have slightly hampered the Colombian’s debut campaign in the Premier League, but James Rodríguez remains a vital cog in Everton’s machine this season.
The 29-year-old brings style and unpredictability to the Toffees attack and his five Premier League goals have come at crucial moments for the blue half of Merseyside.
As demonstrated at Manchester United last week, the Colombian can change the game with the click of his fingers and hopes to bring a similar offensive influence in Saturday’s derby.
He was hired to add that Champions League quality to the Everton squad and a positive display over the weekend would take Ancelotti’s Toffees a step further towards their overall goal.
MIDDLE FIELD CENTRAL – Gini Wijnaldum (Liverpool)
The Dutch midfielder isn’t the best known name when it comes to Liverpool’s stars, but the 30-year-old operates quietly and efficiently in the Reds’ midfield.
Wijnaldum is vital for Jurgen Klopp’s team in terms of pressure and reliability in the middle of the park. The Dutchman has missed just 25 games in his five-and-a-half-year career at Liverpool and often forms the heart of the Reds’ midfield.
The midfielder has also shown an occasional quality in front of goal, whether with his clever shot in difficult situations or his last runs into the box to find extra space.
With their contract terminated at the end of the season, Liverpool should think twice about letting a key part of their engine go so easily.
MIDDLE FIELD CENTRAL – Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton)
The 28-year-old has proven to be a smart deal for the Toffees since his summer arrival from Watford for £ 20 million.
Doucoure does the tough base job to help his defense, while always threatening to advance his ball from deep.
The Frenchman is an imposing midfield figure who has the potential to dominate the midfields against Liverpool this weekend.
Doucoure has always been an attacking threat for Everton this season, he is now scoring the goals and assisting to prove it.
RIGHT HAND: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
There cannot be a combined eleven involving Liverpool without mentioning Mohamed Salah.
While Jurgen Klopp’s side continues to falter in the Premier League, the Egyptian’s quality in attacking areas has been maintained and he enters Saturday’s Merseyside Derby with four goals in his last four league games.
Salah still leads the Premier League goal charts with 17, while having the best minute-to-goal ratio of all Golden Boot contenders with a successful goal every 113 minutes.
His brilliant finish against Leicester City last weekend was commendable, but he probably wouldn’t rank in the winger’s top five goals for Liverpool since his arrival in 2017.
Salah also has two goals in four Merseyside Derby games and hopes to improve on that record this weekend.
TOP CENTRAL: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
A difficult decision had to be made as to which of Roberto Firmino or Sadio Mane would accompany Salah in the combined XI.
But Firmino’s constant goal threat gives him the go-ahead over the Senegalese winger, who has just one goal in his last seven Premier League games.
The Brazilian forward leads the way for Jurgen Klopp’s men in terms of assists this season, with seven on behalf of Firmino in a Liverpool that hasn’t scored many goals lately.
The 29-year-old also has six league goals this season and is on track to surpass his total of nine from last season. His quality on the upper end of the court was epitomized by his clever tapping against Salah in Leicester last weekend.
LEFT DEFENSE: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
There are no prizes for guessing who will be Everton’s point man in Saturday’s derby.
Calvert-Lewin’s 13 goals in 19 league games have been instrumental in the rise of the Toffees under Ancelotti, leaving them well and truly on their way to a European final.
The 23-year-old’s absence from Everton’s last two games has been painful, but the forward is ready to return from injury in time for the Liverpool clash.
It’s not just the forward’s medical history in front of goal that makes him crucial to this Everton team, but also Calvert-Lewin’s unwillingness to dive deep and bring others into the game.
The forward was largely out of the game when the two teams last met in October, but he just needed a clear shot to make Klopp’s team pay and find the back of the net.
This time, Ancelotti will demand more of the same.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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