Key Facts
- Liverpool heads into the derby in poor form: four losses in five competitive matches and without starting goalkeeper Alisson, which makes the defense significantly more vulnerable.
- Everton is on an upward trend under David Moyes: ten points from their last five league games, including a convincing 3-0 win over Chelsea.
- Only five points separate Liverpool (5th) and Everton (8th) – the derby will have a direct impact on the race for European spots.
- In the last five head-to-head matches, there have been more than 1.5 goals in each game, though four of those matches had fewer than 3.5 goals – generally close but high-scoring games.
- Statistically, Everton has scored in four of their last five games, and Liverpool has conceded in four of their last five – pointing to goals at both ends, amplified by Alisson’s absence.
- Liverpool looks limited offensively without Hugo Ekitiké and with Alexander Isak not yet fully fit; a home odds of around 3.1 for Everton seems plausible in this context.
The first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium comes at an inopportune time for Liverpool, but a hopeful one for Everton. Arne Slot’s team has lost four of their last five competitive matches, and Hugo Ekitiké’s Achilles tendon injury has further deepened the turmoil. Everton, on the other hand, enters the match with renewed confidence under David Moyes and the genuine feeling that the new stadium can provide an extra boost on big occasions.
This Premier League clash carries European significance: Fifth-place Liverpool is just five points ahead of eighth-place Everton heading into Sunday’s match. The last league meeting ended 2-1 in Liverpool’s favor in September, but the situation feels different today. Everton’s recent stability and Liverpool’s inconsistent form turn an already explosive city derby into a matchup that is much harder to predict than the standings once suggested.
- Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
- Date and Time: April 19, 2026, 3:00 PM
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 33)
The market still sees Liverpool as slight favorites and considers a draw a real possibility. The more convincing argument, however, is that this match should produce goals. Everton have scored in four of their last five games, Liverpool have conceded in four of those, and Alisson’s absence plays a role.
Everton Form & Record Check
Everton’s 2-2 draw at Brentford was a good litmus test for the team’s current state. They came under early pressure, fought back through Beto, and in the end showed enough conviction to equalize late through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
It is precisely this ability to bounce back that has become a habit under Moyes, and it explains better than anything else why the mood around the club is calmer and, at the same time, more ambitious than it was at the start of the season.
In the league, Everton has picked up ten points from their last five games, with wins against Newcastle, Burnley, and Chelsea serving as clear statements. The 3-0 win over Chelsea was particularly noteworthy because it showed just how much more confident their home performances have become. Interestingly, they are level on points with Brentford and just one point ahead of Brighton, so the margin is tight. But the scoring threat they’ve recently found gives them a real foundation to build on.
Everton is likely to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation under David Moyes, though that is, of course, still just a prediction. Jordan Pickford – 1 is expected to start in goal, with a back four of Jake O’Brien – 15, James Tarkowski – 6, Jarrad Branthwaite – 32, and Vitaliy Mykolenko – 16. In defensive midfield, Idrissa Gueye – 27 and James Garner – 37 are expected to anchor the center and organize the press.
Further up the field, the prediction is that Dwight McNeil – 7, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 22, and Iliman Ndiaye – 10 will play behind Beto – 9, who has been in strong scoring form recently and gives Everton a direct threat in attack. With Carlos Alcaraz and Jack Grealish out, Moyes will likely stick to his tried-and-true formation and use Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 22 more prominently as a link between midfield and attack.
Liverpool Form & Record Check
Liverpool’s immediate problem is not just Tuesday’s 0-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain, but what it revealed once again. Both quarterfinal matches were lost, Hugo Ekitiké suffered a serious injury, and when games against the Reds are on the line, they visibly lack rhythm. Arne Slot can point to his team’s effort, but the bigger picture shows a team struggling with pressure rather than playing with momentum.
Across all competitions, the Reds have lost four of their last five matches, with their only win coming at home against Fulham. The situation in the league is also tighter than they’d like: Aston Villa is just three points ahead, while Chelsea trails by four. Mohamed Salah remains the decisive weapon in close matches, but without Alisson in goal and with Alexander Isak not yet fully fit, Liverpool look vulnerable.
This projected Liverpool XI points to the familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, with Giorgi Mamardashvili – 25 likely to remain in goal as Alisson is still out. Jeremie Frimpong – 30 is the obvious choice at right-back, with Conor Bradley unavailable and Joe Gomez not yet fit, while Ibrahima Konaté – 5 and Virgil van Dijk – 4 should form the central defensive pairing, with Milos Kerkez – 6 on the left.
With Wataru Endo also out, Ryan Gravenberch – 38 and Alexis Mac Allister – 10 would likely form the double-pivot, giving Dominik Szoboszlai – 8 the freedom to push forward into attacks. Florian Wirtz – 7 could drift inside around Cody Gakpo – 18, while Mohamed Salah – 11 poses the main threat. Hugo Ekitiké is out, and Alexander Isak has only just returned, so this is all speculation.
Everton – Liverpool Head-to-Head & Stats
Liverpool has won three of the last five derbies, Everton one, and one ended in a draw. The most recent clash in September 2025 ended 2-1 for Liverpool, and the Reds also won 1-0 in April 2025. Everton’s bright spot in this series remains the 2-0 home win in 2024, which ended a long streak of futility in this rivalry.
The scoring pattern has been fairly consistent. Each of the last three meetings produced more than 1.5 goals, yet four of the last five matches saw fewer than 3.5 goals. Lately, this rivalry has generated more tension than chaos. This is also reflected in the 2-2 draw in February 2025, which, while dramatic, still fit into the overall trend of comparatively controlled results.
