The first Merseyside derby of the season is always a special occasion and this time it’s come round rather quickly with it being the sixth game in.
It is also the first game after the transfer deadline day so they’ll be fresh faces for both sides ready to experience the fire the derby between these two massive clubs holds.
Liverpool brought in one player on deadline in Arthur Melo, the Brazilian joined on loan from Juventus to cover for Jordan Henderson who suffers a few weeks out with injury.
However he will be unavailable for the game due to his interview clearance coming in too late.
Everton had two deals confirmed on the last day of the window bringing in former man Idrissa Gana Gueye and midfielder James Garner from Manchester United.
It has been confirmed that Gueye will feature on the weekend.
Neal Maupay is also a new signing who is expected to make his debut for Frank Lampard’s Blues on Saturday.
The Reds will be without several key men yet again as they contend with their injury issues.
Joel Matip and Curtis Jones returned to the bench against Newcastle however Henderson was forced off with a hamstring issue.
The likes of Ibrahim Konate, Thiago and Naby Keita also remain unavailable.
There is a boost for Liverpool though as Darwin Nunez is back from his three match suspension whilst Jurgen Klopp said that Diogo Jota will probably be back in the squad.
Lampard confirmed that Abdoulaye Doucoure has stepped up recovery but he still remains a doubt.
Both sides haven’t started the campaign in great fashion and will be hoping the derby will kickstart their campaign.
The last few derbies have been pretty special which emphasises how every single time something significant happens in this passionate fixture.
Divock Origi’s last hoorah
Going into this one last season Liverpool were hunting down a quadruple whilst Everton were praying to not hunted down by the chasing pack in the relegation battle.
At Anfield the odds were always in Liverpool’s favour however Everton sat back and proved to be a stern test making the game as physical and rowdy as possible.
A few handbags in the first half added to the contest but eventually the deadlock was broken in the second half.
Andy Robertson headed in at the back post and he was a very popular goalscorer for fans in red due to how much the ones in blue took a dislike to him.
Then to finish the game off an even more popular goalscorer, the man who was made for derby day.
Divock Origi.
Jordan Henderson floated a ball to the back post and Luis Diaz went for the acrobatic effort which found Origi who was able to nod home for his parting Anfield gift.
Rafa Benitez in the wrong dugout
One of the weirdest managerial appointments in modern times led to one of the strangest derbies ever.
A Liverpool legend who had won one of the most dramatic Champion Leagues in history for the club had been appointed as the Everton boss.
Bizarre, to say the least.
Benitez started his first few league games in decent fashion however it went sour quickly.
Derby day came around and the away fans were chanting the home managers name.
It was a rout for Liverpool who ended up winning 4-1 thanks to goals from Jordan Henderson, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota.
An embarrassing loss to Norwich made sure Benitez’s reign in charge of the blue side of the city was cut short.
He still has the love of the red side.
The Anfield hoodoo is no more
Three derbies ago and a third different manager for The Toffees.
Carlo Ancelotti, one of the greatest managers in Europe, was at the helm as he looked to try and take Everton to Europe.
In his way this time was a Liverpool side in crisis on and off the pitch.
Injuries galore at the back and no goals galore in attack Klopp looked set to miss out on Champions League football.
Infront of an empty Anfield due to the soulless days of Covid football Everton did not take long to stamp their authority on the fixture and make The Reds even more miserable.
James Rodriguez, yes he did actually play for Everton it wasn’t a dream, slipped Richarlison in-behind to score early on sending every bluenose into oblivion sat at home.
The victory was wrapped up with a penalty in the second half.
One of the greatest memories for the younger generation of Evertonians.
The Anfield curse was finally no more.
In the end the season ended in jubilance for Liverpool as they finished 3rd whilst Everton ended up getting no European football at all coming 10th and Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid in the summer winning them another Champions League title, against Liverpool.
It’s a funny old world the sport of football.
Hopefully there’s another memorable derby coming up.
