Merseyside Derby - Reds Vs Blues - Sky Sports 1. 8.00PM KO

Luckycharms_74

Jurgen Klopp insists the Barclays Premier League will always be Liverpool's priority as they prepare to face rivals Everton at Anfield in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.

Following their astonishing UEFA Europa League victory over Borussia Dortmund which sealed a place in the semi-finals, the Reds made 10 changes for Sunday's 2-1 win over AFC Bournemouth.

Klopp has encounters with Everton and Newcastle United to negotiate prior to the first leg of Liverpool's semi-final with Villarreal, but insists the league will always be foremost in his mind as he prepares for his first derby since taking over.

"We had no other chance to win," he said when asked why he had made so many alterations at the Vitality Stadium. "I said to the boys that maybe sometimes rotation is for resting players for another tournament.
“In our case, we only rotate because the most important tournament still and always will be the Premier League.

"We wanted to win the game - that's why we took another formation. You cannot rest for a tournament, you can only try to find a few more fit players and that is what we tried to do.

"We have two more Premier League games before the next European game so we don't think about Europa League."
Liverpool have won five, drawn one and lost one of their last seven league fixtures, a run that leaves them in eighth place in the table, five points behind Manchester United in fifth with a match in hand.

That means continental qualification through their league placing is still very much within their grasp.

Like Liverpool, Roberto Martinez's men have progressed in another competition; they face Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday having previously made the last four of the League Cup this season.
In the Barclays Premier League, though, Everton have only picked up three points from six fixtures and drew 1-1 at home to Southampton last time out when Ramiro Funes Mori's goal was cancelled out by Sadio Mane, leaving them 11th.

"Overall it is disappointing - we wanted to win at home," said Funes Mori. "The goal didn't mean anything because we did not win.
"We drew a game we should have won but we will keep fighting until the end. We don't want to tie, we want to win.

"It is going to be an intense week. We have important games coming up so we will do everything to win against Liverpool and then go again in the FA Cup."

Six of the previous seven Merseyside derbies in the league have finished as draws, including Brendan Rodgers' last match in charge of the Reds, which finished 1-1 at Goodison Park in October.

Liverpool are undefeated in 10 top-flight derbies, with Everton's last win coming in October 2010 when Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta netted in a 2-0 triumph at Goodison.

Klopp will check on Divock Origi (back) and Kolo Toure (muscular problem), with the likes of Christian Benteke (knee), Emre Can (ankle) and Jordan Henderson (knee) all out.

Everton will monitor Leighton Baines (groin) and Aaron Lennon (hamstring) in the lead up to kick-off, while Tom Cleverley (knock), Seamus Coleman and Phil Jagielka (both hamstring) are less likely to make it.

Liverpool (from): Bogdan, Mignolet, Caulker, Clyne, Jose Enrique, Flanagan,
Ilori,Lovren, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Allen, Coutinho, Ibe, Lallana, Lucas, Milner, Teixeira, Firmino, Origi, Sturridge.


Everton (from): Howard, Joel, Stanek, Baines, Coleman, Funes Mori, Galloway, Holgate, Jagielka, Oviedo, Stones, Barkley, Barry, Besic, Cleverley, Gibson, Lennon, McCarthy, Mirallas, Osman, Pienaar, Deulofeu, Kone, Lukaku, Niasse.


Match Appointments
Referee: Robert Madley Assistants: D Cann, P Kirkup Fourth Official: R East

Match Facts
- Christian Benteke has scored four goals in five Barclays Premier League matches against Everton.
- Romelu Lukaku has scored five goals in his last seven BPL appearances against Liverpool.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in the last 10 top-flight Merseyside derbies (W3 D7 L0).
- Six of the last seven league meetings between these two sides have ended as draws.

eagle eye

Luckycharms_74 wrote: »

Klopp will check on Divock Origi (back) and Kolo Toure (muscular problem), with the likes of Christian Benteke (knee), Emre Can (ankle) and Jordan Henderson (knee) all out.


Match Facts
- Christian Benteke has scored four goals in five Barclays Premier League matches against Everton.
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:pac:

monkey9

TL;DR. Who's playing?

eagle eye

Merseyside Derby which should really be the thread title imo.

BoJack Horseman

So, it's not this then...?

Gavlor

Is anybody, on either side of the fence in the slightest bit arsed about this game?

The most irrelevant Derby in years.

Harry Palmr

Gavlor wrote: »

Is anybody, on either side of the fence in the slightest bit arsed about this game?

The most irrelevant Derby in years.

In one sense yes and yet if Man Utd slip up tonight and Liverpool win (with the game in hand) a bit of pressure might be applied to them...plus we like to see the Academy players.

Mind you West Ham will batter Watford tonight

Turtyturd

Turtyturd

Bojack you Donut.

Luckycharms_74

Tonight's matchday program for anyone who wants a read


http://en.calameo.com/read/004449715ea49f0aed329?authid=IjgIHZ4805M9

Chardee MacDennis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4drNFXd6dw

LuckyLloyd

Gavlor wrote: »

Is anybody, on either side of the fence in the slightest bit arsed about this game?

The most irrelevant Derby in years.

Meh, fooootball!!!!

Be good to see how certain players perform. That's about it!!

mansize

Is this season not over yet?

Turtyturd

Must.....resist.....urge.

Agent Coulson

https://twitter.com/LFC/status/722847208341508097

5starpool

Origi over Sturridge again is an interesting one. I know we have another game on Saturday that a few on the bench will start ahead of the EL game on Thursday, but I thought Sturidge would start tonight.

Fromvert

Play most of the team he plans on playing against Villareal tonight and rest them at the weekend looks the plan.

corcaigh07

I thought Klopp would have learnt his lesson and not play Milner at CM again after Dortmund.

I reckon that is more or less the team for next week which is annoying if Milner is CM and no Allen.

marklazarcovic

hopefully another 4-3 win for the home team

Talisman

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Sakho, Lovren, Moreno, Lucas, Milner, Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho, Origi.

Everton: Robles, Oviedo, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines, McCarthy, Barry, Lennon, Barkley, Mirallas, Lukaku.

garra

5starpool wrote: »

Origi over Sturridge again is an interesting one. I know we have another game on Saturday that a few on the bench will start ahead of the EL game on Thursday, but I thought Sturidge would start tonight.

He did 90 mins on Sunday I think. Somewhere recently Klopp said we should not expect quick recovery times from Studge. How pleasant is it to have Origi to step in though? A couple of months ago we had just Benny.

corwill

Not sure what Allen has to do to get a start.

Turtyturd

Moyes still hasn't recovered from his United experience.

Harry Palmr

corwill wrote: »

Not sure what Allen has to do to get a start.

Be interesting to see if the Lucas/Milner is a two or if one of Lallana and Coutinho is tasked to drop deep.

Shanotheslayer

Not happy with Everton starting such a strong team with Semi on the weekend

Turtyturd

Barry, McCarthy, Milner and Lucas...decent receipe for a red card or two there.

googled eyes

Come on RedMen

googled eyes

https://twitter.com/RoryFitz9/status/722862188256489474

martyos121

Don't see any goals in this game, dire opening 55 seconds.

Osmosis Jones

Good tackle from Lallana, Lovren left a fool

GreNoLi

I can only see one winner here.

Harry Palmr

Jasus wake up, Everton are taking this seriously

Turtyturd

Stupid sloppy passes causing trouble yet again.

Osmosis Jones

All the time in the world, Coutinho is excellent

martyos121

Square it to Origi!

~Rebel~

Balls, Lallana has to be scoring that.

Could have easily taken it around the right of the keeper as Robles came out to him.

5starpool

What a chance for Lallana. Finished it like Benteke. Awful 1 on 1 effort.

Utopia Parkway

Gotta score that Lallana. Had too much time to think about it.

NukaCola

Lallana is poison in front of goal...

Turtyturd

Lallana should have spun round the keeper.

Tipsy McSwagger

Shocking to hear Everton fans singing that disgusting song.

Harry Palmr

Oviado looks well dodgy

happyoutscan

Poor.

Knex*

That's the kinda thing that keeps Lallana from pushing on into the "fairly good" category.

darced

This post has been deleted.

Osmosis Jones

Incredibly sloppy. Milner booked already for two small fouls.

5starpool

Ya, we'll lose this tonight, got that feeling about it.

NukaCola

Milner nailed on for a red....

garra

garra wrote: »

He did 90 mins on Sunday I think. Somewhere recently Klopp said we should not expect quick recovery times from Studge. How pleasant is it to have Origi to step in though? A couple of months ago we had just Benny.

I reckon he's managing it so all of Origi, Sturridge & Firmino get rested at times. Makes sense as he generally plays 2 of the 3.

Knex*

First Milner 'foul' wasn't even one, and I do think that's a harsh yellow.

Hopefully it doesn't cost us.

Harry Palmr

Milner doing a Milner.