The relentless grind of the run-in shows no signs of slowing down for Arne Slot, as Liverpool prepare to run a gauntlet that could define their entire season. Next up on the horizon is a fixture steeped in both historic rivalry and unprecedented territory: a high-stakes trip to face Everton.
This isn’t just any derby, however. The Reds are set to become the first visitors to experience the white-hot atmosphere of the Hill Dickinson Stadium for a Merseyside Derby. It is a baptism of fire at the Blues brand-new waterfront home, where a hostile crowd and a revitalized Everton side await.
For Slot, the task is clear but daunting navigate the emotional intensity while keeping Liverpool’s aspirations on track in the face of a mounting injury crisis.
Liverpool only have the Premier League to focus on now, as their faint hopes of collecting silverware, via the scenic route of the Champions League, were extinguished last time out.
The Merseyside giants were on the receiving end of a soul-crushing 4-0 defeat on aggregate, as Ousmane Dembele’s brace put the second leg result beyond all doubt at Anfield.
This result means Slot’s side has seen their silverware hopes evaporate in a bruising few weeks, and Liverpool’s season has been boiled down to a singular, desperate mission.
After being sent crashing out of the Emirates FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League, the Reds’ trophy cabinet will remain locked this May, leaving Arne Slot to navigate the debris of a campaign that promised so much more.
Everton will be a formidable foe waiting in their path, but the narrative has shifted significantly for the 248th installment of this feisty rivalry. David Moyes, now in his second spell with the Toffees, has transformed them from relegation candidates into genuine European hopefuls, sitting just five points behind the Reds.
Recent form
Everton
Despite Everton and Liverpool regularly butting heads over the years, there is a freshness to this Derby, in particular, as it’s the first time these historic rivals have clashed at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Looking over the Toffees’ last five clashes in all competitions, they do enjoy playing at their own stomping ground, with the last two results at Everton’s brand-new home seeing Moyes and Co. hammer Chelsea 3-0, and confidently overcome Burnley 2-0.
Their only loss across their last five games is to title-chasing Arsenal, with a dogged 3-2 win on the road at Newcastle United also sticking out.
It’s fair to say, the blue half of Merseyside won’t be pushovers when Liverpool make the trip over enemy lines, as they look to make the first Derby showdown at the Hill Dickinson one to firmly remember.
Liverpool
If Everton are noted as looking forward to the spectacle on Sunday, Liverpool are dreading the occasion.
Indeed, the fear will be that Slot’s men drown under the pressure of a hostile Everton home crowd, with a sorry four defeats collected across their last five games in all competitions.
Anfield was stunned into silence towards the end of the 2-0 loss to PSG on Tuesday night, and the away masses have had very little to shout about in recent times, too, with a 4-0 loss on the road at Manchester City in the FA Cup still stinging.
Coming unstuck to Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1, as well, when travelling to the Amex, Liverpool need to desperately turn around their fortunes on their travels, to pull off a result at their hated neighbours on Sunday afternoon.
Head-to-head results
Liverpool might be fearful of their short trip to the Toffees on Sunday, but they do often possess the final bragging rights when the two foes clash.
Indeed, the Reds have won a mighty 101 games from the 247 fierce meetings over the years, with 78 and 68 defeats also taking place.
Merseyside Derby: Head-to-Head Record
As of April 17, 2026:
| Competition | Matches played | Liverpool wins | Draws | Everton wins |
| League fixtures | 213 | 84 | 70 | 59 |
| FA Cup | 25 | 12 | 6 | 7 |
| League Cup | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Other competitions | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 247 | 101 | 78 | 68 |
Liverpool haven’t won either of their last two visits to Everton, though, with Goodison Park a cauldron of noise back in 2024, when the Toffees pulled off a rare 2-0 scalp.
The last two meetings have ended in Liverpool picking up two slim wins, with the 2-1 victory at the start of the season, helping the Reds to pick up five straight league victories, during happier days under the now under-fire Dutchman.
Team news
Everton: Carlos Alcaraz (doubt) and Jack Grealish (out)
Liverpool: Alisson Becker (out), Conor Bradley (out), Giovanni Leoni (out), Hugo Ekitike (out), Joe Gomez (out) and Wataru Endo (out)
Predicted lineups
Everton: (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Beto
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo
What has been said
David Moyes (Everton):
The Scotsman provided the answers to many a question in the build-up to the hotly contested Derby on the weekend, with Moyes hopeful that Everton’s new home can feel more snug with a memorable win.
He said, when quizzed on the occasion of the match being the first of its kind at the Hill Dickinson Stadium: “When you move to a new stadium it’s always difficult. If you look through the records of all teams who have built new stadiums, it has never been easy.
“We have had our ups and downs in it, we had a great start, the bits in the middle were not so good, but we are finding a bit better form now.”
He also hasn’t ruled out Everton finishing inside a European position come the end of the season, with a win against Liverpool further strengthening their chances.
Moyes further stated: “If we stay in a strong position, we give ourselves every chance of getting something in terms of Europe.
“The biggest thing for me is that with six games to go we have something to play for. Over recent years it has been the wrong thing we have been playing for (survival). I hope we can keep the dream alive.”
Arne Slot (Liverpool):
Slot was also subject to various questions, with the Dutchman keen to praise his side’s effort levels against PSG, even if they were ultimately beaten by Luis Enrique and Co’s unbelievable quality in attack.
He said, when looking ahead to the match on Sunday: “They showed a lot of character. Being the better team against PSG is very complicated, let alone in three games in seven days.
A lot of my players broke records in terms of physical output, that tells you how strong and ready they are. That won’t be any different on Sunday.”
He also spoke of the occasion, as he labelled the Merseyside Derby as a “very special” clash to be involved in, no matter which stadium is hosting the match.
He said: “Always a very special game. First one always makes it more special if that’s possible. They are in a very good place at the moment.
You can add one or two percent to how special it is because it is the first one in a new stadium.”
