Skip to content

The local lads who could feature when Liverpool host Everton in the Merseyside derby

Everton's English midfielder Tom Davies during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park in Liverpool, nor

Everton and Liverpool go head-to-head in the Merseyside derby on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.

The encounter will feature players from all over the world, but there are also some Liverpool locals who could be involved.

Live Premier League

From the more experienced Leighton Baines to exciting prospect Trent Alexander-Arnold, we pick out the five Liverpudlians in the frame for inclusion…

Leighton Baines

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Leighton Baines (C) of Everton competes against Danny Simpson (L) and Marc Albrighton (R) of Leicester City during the Emi
Image: Leighton Baines (middle) is a veteran of Merseyside derbies

Kirkby-born Baines is set to be the most experienced Merseysider to take to the field at Anfield on Saturday. The 32-year-old will be due a Goodison Park testimonial soon, but he is showing no sign of fatigue, and has played a key role in another recent Toffees resurgence, having overcome injury problems early in the season to make the left-back position his own once more. Baines is a veteran of the Merseyside derby having made his first appearance as a late substitute during a 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park in October 2007.

LISTEN HERE
LISTEN HERE

Click here to listen to the audio version of this article.

Baines has only been on the winning side twice in 18 meetings since then. It's a record he will be desperate to improve on this weekend, especially as the Toffees come into Saturday's clash on a run of just one league defeat in 12 since the agonising last gasp loss at Goodison in the last derby encounter back in December.

Ben Woodburn

Also See:

Ben Woodburn has broken Liverpool's record, previously held by Michael Owen
Image: Ben Woodburn wrote his name into the Liverpool record books

Woodburn was actually born in Chester, but he is made in Liverpool having joined their youth academy at the age of eight. Few expected he might be in contention for his first Merseyside derby appearance at the start of this season, but the 17-year-old has made a big impression for his club and on Wales manager Chris Coleman, who called up the teenage talent for last week's World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.

The youngster has become a regular in Jurgen Klopp's matchday squads, having come off the bench in two of the Reds' last four Premier League matches. He became the third-youngest player in their history when he made his debut in their Premier League meeting in November, and a few days later he became their youngest ever goalscorer when he volleyed home against Leeds. Saturday could provide another landmark in his fledgling career.

Ross Barkley

Ross Barkley in action during the Premier League match between Hull City and Everton at KC Stadium
Image: Ross Barkley has had to prove the doubters wrong against this season

It has been anything but a smooth ride for Barkley this season. His relationship with manager Ronald Koeman has appeared fractured on several occasions, while the 23-year-old has seen his game-time with England limited, despite being a squad regular. Nonetheless, while there are question marks over his long-term plans, the 23-year-old will be as fired up as anyone for Saturday's Merseyside derby.

Barkley was born in Liverpool and joined Everton's youth ranks as an 11-year-old. Having taken on board his manager's concerns, Barkley heads into Monday's game on the back of an impressive patch of form, with two assists in his last three appearances taking his season tally to seven, one off matching his best return for a season, with nine games still to come.

Tom Davies

Tom Davies lifts the ball over Claudio Bravo to score Everton's third
Image: Davies lifts the ball over Claudio Bravo to score against Man City

Davies' rise has been somewhat meteoric under Ronald Koeman this season. The 18-year-old made his debut under Roberto Martinez last season, but this campaign has seen the local lad become something of a cult figure on the blue half of Merseyside.

Koeman handed Davies his first start for his boyhood club against Southampton in January, where the academy graduate contributed an assist in an impressive, all-round display. The teenager's performance against Manchester City two weeks later provided further proof of his burgeoning talent, coming away with the man of the match award after finding the net in a 4-0 success.

Everton's young generation
Everton's young generation

Tom Davies, Mason Holgate and the rise of Everton's young generation

Seven more Premier League starts have followed, and that tally looks set to be added to at Anfield. Should he make a telling contribution on Saturday, expect his popularity on the Gwladys Street End to increase tenfold.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold during the EFL Cup, Quarter Final match v Leeds at Anfield, Liverpool
Image: Trent Alexander-Arnold has been trusted in big games before

Alexander-Arnold grew up a stone's throw from Liverpool's Melwood training ground and joined the club's academy at the age of six after turning down the chance to join Everton. The teenage full-back captained his boyhood club at youth levels, and he is now a regular fixture in Jurgen Klopp's first-team squad.

He earned widespread praise for his performances in Liverpool's EFL Cup wins over Tottenham and Leeds, and he was handed his Premier League debut as a late substitute in their 3-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Then came the 18-year-old's big moment, as Klopp handed him a shock start at Old Trafford against bitter rivals Manchester United. An inclusion an Anfield on Saturday would be similarly surprising, but Klopp is a fan of the full-back, and after scoring twice for England U19s against Spain last week, facing the club he rejected as a child is not out of the question.

Around Sky