Liverpool vs Everton: Title challengers host relegation battlers on April 24 in intriguing Merseyside Derby

Topics: TV Schedules, Liverpool, Everton, English Premier League

The Reds will host the Toffees on Sunday as they look to maintain pressure on league leaders Manchester City in a heated Premier League title race.

Preview

The Premier League title race has reached its final hurdle. With Manchester City and Liverpool both going head-to-head for the English top-flight crown, no side can afford a slip-up. As a result, the Reds' showdown with Everton in the Merseyside Derby will be a crucial fixture as Klopp's men look to maintain their brilliant run in their clash with Lampard's relegation-battling side.

Salah and Co. enter this round trailing Guardiola's men by a single point. However, after thrashing Watford 5-1, the Cityzens have moved four clear at the top, albeit temporarily. This means the Anfield outfit will have no choice but the secure the three points when the Toffees pay them a visit.

Fortunately for the home side, form favors them ahead of this tie. Apart from two recent meaningless slip-ups in the UEFA Champions League, Liverpool have won all but one of their last 20 outings, with that sole unfavorable result being a 2-2 draw away to Manchester City.

Their most recent outing was an unforgettable encounter with bitter rivals Manchester United. The Red Devils visited Anfield without several key players, yet that was not enough of an excuse for the thrashing they received in Merseyside as Klopp's men marched to a brilliant 4-0 victory over the 20-time English champions.

Liverpool's front three were electric on that day, with Luis Diaz, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah all assisting and getting on the scoresheet. The recently-signed Colombian broke the deadlock early on in the game courtesy of a breathtaking counter attack. Salah, who grabbed a brace in Tuesday's victory, scored shortly afterwards and was set up by Mane.

The Senegalese would grab the third, this time courtesy of a Diaz assist, before their Egyptian teammate completed his two-goal haul. Will the Premier League giants grab another three points and keep the pressure on Manchester City?

Everton will do everything within their power to stop this from occurring. Unfortunately, the Toffees aren't in a position to make demands as the Merseyside outfit are fighting to remain in the English top-flight.

Lampard's men faced Leicester in their most recent outing and grabbed a late equalizer thanks to a Richarlison goal. However, the celebration did not last long as Burnley's victory over Southampton means the Goodison Park outfit are only a point above the relegation zone.

While Everton secured a brilliant 1-0 victory over Manchester United not too long ago, that was their only victory in their last five fixtures. In fact, the visitors have triumphed only twice in their last nine Premier League outings.

Richarlison and Co. beat Liverpool just over a year ago, but that victory was a sole triumph in a lengthy spell of shortcomings against their Merseyside rivals. In fact, that was their only victory in their last 25 derbies, a run that stretches back until 2010. A win on Sunday would do wonders for the relegation battlers. Tune in to find out whether Lampard can inspire his men to achieve the impossible.

Team news

Liverpool: Roberto Firmino is the only player nursing an issue, with a foot injury making him a doubt. Elsewhere, Klopp has a fully-fit squad, with Naby Keita and Diogo Jota pushing for a start. However, after their deadly performance against Manchester United, it's hard to see anyone from the Diaz-Mane-Salah trio being dropped.

Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin has a thigh issue and will thus sit out this tie. Donny van de Beek and Andre Gomes are also concerns for this tie while Andros Townsend, Tom Davies and Nathan Patterson are all out.

Key stats

Everton have beaten Liverpool only once in their last 25 encounters.
Additionally, the Toffees have picked up only six points on the road, the worst away tally in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool have lost only once in their last 25 games across all competitions, winning 19 and drawing five.
The Reds have won their last 11 games at Anfield in the Premier League.