Liverpool vs Everton LIVE: Team news as Reds dealt double injury blow ahead of Merseyside derby | OneFootball

Arne Slot’s Liverpool are back in action (John Walton/PA Wire)

Liverpool will look to re-establish their advantage at the top of the Premier League as they return to action with a Merseyside derby against Everton.

Arne Slot’s side have had plenty of time to stew on their Carabao Cup final loss as a trophy slipped out of their grasp at Wembley, with this their first outing since that mid-March defeat after an early exit from the FA Cup. It leaves their full focus on league success and though their significant lead over Arsenal was narrowed to nine points last night, Liverpool remain in a position of such strength with nine games to go in the campaign.

This could represent a stumbling block, though, with Everton sure to be ready for their rivals as they travel across the city. James Tarkowski snatched a dramatic late equaliser in the reverse fixture - the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park - and the club have enjoyed solid form since, though David Moyes will be keen to end a recent run of draws that have inhibited their climb up the table.

Everton welcome back Mykolenko

The big news from Everton’s teamsheet is that Vitali Mykolenko has passed his late fitness test and starts at left-back ahead of Ashley Young.

Iliman Ndiaye is also on the bench after returning to training this week.

Will Castle2 April 2025 18:56

Derby day comes too soon for Liverpool duo

Alisson and Conor Bradley both returned to Liverpool training this week and were in contention to feature, but have both missed out on the matchday squad.

Caoimhin Kelleher assumes his usual position as Alisson’s trusted deputy, while Curtis Jones - who was at the centre of controversy when these two sides last met, looks to be playing at right-back.

Ryan Gravenberch, on the other hand, does make a return after suffering a knock in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle.

Team news on the way...

Right, just five minutes or so until the team news lands at Anfield - here’s a quick reminder of what we know so far:

Alisson Becker, Ryan Gravenberch and Conor Bradley have all returned to Liverpool training and could be in contention to feature, although a late fitness test will likely prove decisive for the trio. Alisson picked up a suspected concussion on Brazil duty, while Ryan Gravenberch suffered a knock in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final loss. Joe Gomez and Alexander-Arnold remain sidelined.

Wednesday’s trip across Stanley Park will prove too soon for Iliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, all of whom have returned to training but won’t be ready to feature. Vitali Mykolenko is in contention though, while Orel Mangala remains a long-term absentee for David Moyes after injuring his ACL in January.

Will there be any surprises?

Harry Latham-Coyle2 April 2025 18:40

Premier League to introduce offside technology this month

Semi-automated offsides will be introduced in Premier League matches for the latter stages of the current season, the league has revealed.

The technology was originally intended to be introduced after one of the autumn international breaks in October or November.

It was notably debuted in English football during the FA Cup fifth round at the start of March, featuring in seven of the eight ties being played.

Following additional non-live testing in the Premier League, semi-automated offsides will now be used for the first time in the top flight this season, using virtual offside lines and graphics along with optical player tracking for those watching at home or in a stadium.

Will Castle2 April 2025 17:45

The Premier League has never been more popular but it has never had more problems

There was a strange feeling around some Premier League training grounds on Monday, especially for the modern game. It was one of refreshment. The sun was out for a lot of teams, and many players haven’t had a game for two and a half weeks. It represents the longest break the Premier League has had since the summer.

Such a gap would normally bring the same sense of refreshment to the actual games, but then this is also a strange time for the Premier League as a whole. Normally so used to being the biggest show around, “the world’s best league” last weekend witnessed the FA Cup bringing some actual storylines back to a relatively drab season.

That was something else that fed into the feeling at some training grounds this week. There is a sense of a season winding down, rather than building to a crescendo.

Miguel Delaney2 April 2025 17:30