Liverpool vs Everton. The FA Cup Third Round.
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Friday 5 January 2018 19:02, UK
Liverpool could give a debut to Virgil van Dijk in the FA Cup third-round Merseyside derby clash at home to Everton on Friday (kick-off 7.55pm).
Van Dijk has trained with his new Liverpool team-mates on Wednesday for the first time since he completed his £75m move to Anfield.
Former Celtic defender Van Dijk will compete with Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez for a regular place in Klopp's starting XI.
The Philippe Coutinho transfer saga continues to rumble on and he'll miss this game due to a thigh injury.
Liverpool rebuffed a series of offers from Barca for Coutinho last summer but it has been reported the Spanish side may return with a fresh bid this month.
This is the second time in a month that these two rivals have met after Everton snatched a 1-1 draw when they travelled to Anfeld in December.
Liverpool's top scorer Mohamed Salah (groin) and Coutinho (thigh) will miss the FA Cup derby.
Midfielder Jordan Henderson (hamstring) and defender Alberto Moreno (ankle) are still recovering from injuries.
Ross Barkley is closing in on a return from a hamstring injury for Everton.
Barkley hasn't played since May 2017 in a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal after sustaining an injury in training in August.
Leighton Baines, Ramiro Funes Mori and Seamus Coleman remain on the sidelines.
Liverpool are on their joint-longest unbeaten run against Everton in all competitions, 15 games, (set between March 1972 and April 1978).
This will be the 24th meeting between these two Merseyside rivals in the FA Cup, Liverpool winning 10 and drawing six (L7) - however, they haven't met in the third round since 1931/32.
The last meeting between Liverpool and Everton in the FA Cup was a semi-final at Wembley in 2012, Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll scoring the goals for the Reds.
Liverpool haven't failed to progress beyond the third round since January 2011, losing 0-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
in contrast, the Toffees have been knocked out at this stage in two of the last three seasons, with both coming against Premier League opposition.
Liverpool struggled to break down Everton without Philippe Coutinho last time they met in the Premier League - and they're also going to be without leading scorer Mohamed Salah.
However, Sam Allardyce will make changes and I think, other than his two key men missing, Jurgen Klopp will play a strong side so I don't see the match panning out the same.
Charlie predicts: 2-0 (11/2 with Sky Bet)
