Liverpool and Everton will contest the first Merseyside derby to be played at the Hill Dickinson stadium to mark the 248th meeting between the two rivals.
In recent years, the fixtures has been marked by individual moments rather than either side being blown out of the water. Earlier this season, a wonderful run and finish by Ryan Gravenberch was imperative in a 2-1 win at Anfield over the Toffees.
Arne Slot’s team need to keep momentum on the Champions League places, despite a damning 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain midweek. If the home side can pick up the three points, that would put them just two points behind the Anfield outfit.
With that being said, here are three battles that could dictate how the match could unfold on Sunday.
Jeremie Frimpong VS Iliman Ndiaye
When the teams faced each other back in September, Ndiaye faced Milos Kerkez, but with the injury to Jack Grealish, the Senegalese international has taken his place on the left wing, where he will come across Frimpong.
The Dutch fullback was subbed off against PSG on Tuesday in a poor performance, as he had little impact on the game and was troubled by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
He will need to be at his best to stop the Blues talisman, who has got 9 goal contributions in the league this season, including one against the Reds in the reserve fixture.
Mohamed Salah VS Vitaliy Mykolenko
As the curtain begins to fall on his legendary Anfield career, Mohamed Salah heads into his final Merseyside Derby facing a narrative he hasn’t encountered in nearly a decade: a fight for form.
By his own stratospheric standards, the Egyptian King has endured his most difficult campaign since arriving on Merseyside. With just six Premier League goals to his name at this stage, critics have been quick to question if his looming summer departure has dulled his competitive edge.
However, the last seven days have suggested that write-offs are premature. Salah looked like his vintage self in the 2-1 victory over Fulham last weekend, finding the back of the net with clinical precision.
He followed that up with a razor-sharp cameo against Paris St Germain in midweek, nearly turning the game on its head moments after stepping off the bench. For Arne Slot, the hope is that Salah is peaking just in time to say a goalscoring goodbye to the Blues.
Standing in his way at the Hill Dickinson Stadium is a man who has made a habit of relishing this specific defensive assignment: Vitaliy Mykolenko.
The Everton fullback has been the model of consistency in an otherwise turbulent season for the Toffees. Mykolenko’s primary task will be to shepherd Salah onto his weaker right foot and deny him the trademark inside-cut that has haunted Everton for years.
With Salah desperate to leave one last mark on this fixture and Mykolenko eager to welcome the Reds to their new home with a defensive masterclass, this flank will be the game’s primary battleground.
If Mykolenko can keep the “Egyptian King” quiet, Everton’s hopes of a historic first win at their new stadium skyrocket. If Salah finds that extra yard of pace he’s shown in recent seasons, he could ensure his Derby legacy ends on a golden note.
Salah has had five goal contributions in his last five meetings with the other half of the city, and the Ukrainian defender is viewed as one of the weaker players in a much-improved David Moyes side.
Dominik Szoboszlai VS James Garner
It’s hard to predict which midfield setup the Dutch manager will use in games, or where they will play, but Szoboszlai has regularly been the orchestrator of Liverpool’s midfield this season.
While for Everton, Garner has built a strong midfield pivot alongside Idrissa Gueye, but much of the success, he has played a pivotal role. In the Blues’ recent victory over Chelsea, the 25-year-old was solid and even got an assist.
Both players could both be on their way to collecting Player of the Year awards for their respective teams, but the supporters from each side of the city will be hoping either can make a significant difference, which makes the result fall in their favour.
