Anfield will host a Merseyside derby for the second successive weekend when Liverpool host Everton on Saturday, with the Premier League edition following on from last Sunday’s WSL clash.
Everton walked away with all three points on that occasion, halting Liverpool’s perfect start to the season. But Jurgen Klopp will be confident that his team will have enough about them to get the better of a still struggling Toffees side that appears to have at last found a little bit of form.
Liverpool are expected to be missing as many as six players from their squad through injury and suspension, some more important than others, although Diogo Jota is at least able to return after he served his one-game suspension in the Brighton & Hove Albion draw before the international break.
Curtis Jones (suspended)
Curtis Jones was shown a straight red card in the controversial defeat to Tottenham last month and is serving a three-game suspension as a result of that.
He has already missed the Brighton game, but won’t be eligible for the Merseyside derby or against Nottingham Forest at the end of the month.
Andrew Robertson (shoulder)
Left-back Andrew Robertson dislocated his shoulder while in action for Scotland against Spain last week, colliding with opposing goalkeeper Unai Simon, who then fell on top of him.
Robertson has been pictured still in a sling this week, ruling him out of the derby, but Liverpool are also reported to be awaiting the results of further scans that will determine whether he also needs surgery – recovery from going under the knife would rule the player out for a lengthy period.
Thiago Alcantara (hip)
Thiago rejected the summer advances of the Saudi Pro League but hasn’t played for Liverpool at all so far this season because of the hip problem that has been plaguing him since February.
The veteran Spaniard has suffered setbacks during his rehab too that have only delayed his return to the pitch. But early November is still slated for his potential comeback.
Stefan Bajcetic (calf)
It is not clear when Stefan Bajcetic will be back for Liverpool, but he hasn’t featured very much this season and hasn’t been in a Premier League matchday squad since mid-September.
The youngster saw his 2022/23 campaign prematurely ended in March by a hip muscle tear and it is a a calf problem that is currently keeping him out. Sometimes, it is the final stretch on the road to full fitness after a major injury that ends up being the longest.
Caoimhin Kelleher (knee)
Caoimhin Kelleher wasn’t on the bench against either Brighton or Union Saint-Gilloise in the last two games before the international break because of a knee problem, meaning that Adrian was at least temporarily re-promoted to the understudy goalkeeper role.
Kelleher is just waiting for stitches on his knee to heal before he can return. It won’t be long.
Cody Gakpo (knee)
Of all those who have been sidelined, Cody Gakpo has the greatest chance of making it into the squad to face Everton. The Dutchman has been nursing a knee injury since coming off at half-time against Tottenham, although Klopp said at the start of October there was a “good chance” that Gakpo would be back on the pitch after this month’s international break.
He may need some extra time to build his fitness, but Gakpo was back in training on Thursday.
Ben Doak (knock)
Ben Doak has only played 13 minutes of Premier League football, on the opening day of the season, but represents another forward option if Gakpo isn’t fit.
The teenage Scot, signed from Celtic in the summer of 2022, is carrying a knock but stands a good chance of being fit enough to participate, should Klopp find room on his nine-player bench.
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