Analysis: The key battlegrounds for Everton v Liverpool

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can make the difference in Matchweek 15.

Match analysis - Everton v Liverpool

Liverpool might be flying high as the league leaders, and sitting 14 places above Everton, but they will be all too aware of the danger that faces them at Goodison Park on Saturday after losing this match 2-0 in April.

Arne Slot will be keen to avoid a repeat of that upset as he makes his debut in the Merseyside derby, looking to bounce back from the disappointment of conceding a late equaliser at Newcastle United in midweek.

Meanwhile, Everton, who beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 on the same night, go in search of their first back-to-back derby victories on home turf since 1994, with the added motivation of this being the last time they will ever host Liverpool at Goodison Park, before they move into their new stadium.

Which areas could be crucial to the outcome? Let’s take a closer look.

Everton’s best weapon is set-piece threat

Scoring just six times from open play this season, it is easy to understand why Sean Dyche places so much importance of the quality of Everton’s set-pieces.

That focus paid off on Wednesday night when all four of their goals, plus a disallowed effort, came from wide free-kicks or corners against Wolves.

Now joint-top of the Premier League’s rankings for set-play goals, they will see dead-ball situations as a great avenue to hurt Liverpool.

Most set-piece goals 24/25

Dwight McNeil’s left foot is a weapon they will certainly seek to utilise.

His inswingers at pace are difficult to handle, and with big targets such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, James Tarkowski and Michael Keane - who is an injury doubt - to aim for, Slot’s men must defend with great diligence.

This perfect cross below for Calvert-Lewin forced an own goal from Wolves defender Craig Dawson. It was the fifth wide free-kick they have scored from this season.

Everton’s success from set-pieces on Wednesday coincided with Liverpool conceding their second set-play goal of the campaign at Newcastle.

While that is no disaster in terms of numbers, those concessions were both from wide free-kicks.

For the latest one, Fabian Schar capitalised on a rare Caoimhin Kelleher error, escaping Trent Alexander-Arnold’s attentions to score at the far post.

Before that, Mikel Merino made a run to get goal-side of Liverpool's defence to meet Declan Rice's free-kick at Emirates Stadium.

Merino's goal v Liverpool

Considering how dominant Slot’s side have been this season, the data tells us they have struggled to defend set-pieces with conviction.

Their number for Expected Goals Against (xGA) from corners and free-kicks is 3.8, ranking them only the 10th-best in the division.

Liverpool will need to be disciplined in their defensive decision-making and avoid giving away too many set-plays in this match.

Coping without Mac Allister

World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister is suspended for Saturday’s derby, which will force Slot to change his excellent central-midfield unit.

The likelihood is that Dominik Szoboszlai will come back into the starting XI as a No 10, with Curtis Jones reverting to an orthodox central-midfield position.

Jones, 23, who has broken into the box to score key goals against Chelsea and Newcastle this season, will provide more attacking threat than the missing Argentine.

Jones has a greater number of shots and touches inside the box than Mac Allister per 90 minutes.

Mac Allister compared with Jones PL 24/25

In a match they are likely to dominate territory-wise, it should help Liverpool’s cause to deploy Jones alongside Ryan Gravenberch.

The England international’s well-timed runs into the box might just unlock a stubborn home defence.

It is without the ball where Liverpool are more likely to suffer without Mac Allister, who is more of a natural ball-winner, and the way he drifts left to protect Andrew Robertson is a core part of the Reds’ armoury.

Their comparative defensive action areas below show the difference.

Mac Allister defensive actions (left) v Jones's

With Ashley Young, McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye all lively figures in that right side domain for Everton, Jones must work hard to shift across to that area of the pitch.

Can Young get on the front foot?

The performance of veteran full-back Young is likely to influence the outcome of this derby.

Off the ball, Slot’s men may look to target the 39-year-old.

Young has been dribbled past 11 times already by opponents this season, the second-most of any Everton player, so he could be a little nervous at the prospect of trying to tame Luis Diaz or Cody Gakpo.

But when opportunities arise for Young to get forward, Everton’s manager will urge him to be positive.

In open play Young has created 16 chances, a tally that is second only to McNeil on 19.

His eye for a pass – highlighted by a brilliant, angled ball that assisted Ndiaye at Leicester City – and technical quality are a real asset for Dyche’s men.

This gorgeous side-footed volleyed cross for Beto's goal at home against Fulham is a fantastic example of the quality he possesses.

Of all the Premier League defenders so far in 2024/25, Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold and Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol are the only players to have made more chances in open play.

Most chances created among PL defenders 24/25

A visual image of those key passes from Young, or "shot assists", can be seen below.

While Dyche will expect his team to come under periods of sustained pressure at Goodison, it is vital his players also attack with conviction once the ball is turned over.

This is where Young’s accurate crosses or passes could make the difference.

Will Everton stop Salah breaking another record?

Left-back Vitalii Mykolenko has the unenviable task of keeping on-fire Mohamed Salah quiet in Saturday’s early kick-off on Merseyside.

The Egyptian will be attempting to score in an eighth consecutive Premier League match for the first time in his Liverpool career.

In the Premier League era, Daniel Sturridge in the 2013/14 season is the only Reds star to net in eight straight matches.

Salah already holds the Premier League record for both scoring and assisting in the same match more often than anyone else, achieving it on an astonishing 37 occasions.

In the 3-3 midweek draw at Newcastle, he did it for the sixth time this season alone.

Liverpool’s brilliant forward has 13 Premier League goals and eight assists to his name already this season.

Salah dominates a 10-yard square to the right of the penalty spot, as shown above, so the task facing Mykolenko, left-sided central defender Jarrad Branthwaite and left-sided midfielder Orel Mangala must be to ensure Salah is not able to fire off shots in that part of the box.

Stopping the service at source will also be hugely important for Dyche.

This is one of Everton's core strengths, with industrious wide men McNeil and Ndiaye especially reliable at pressurising opponents and winning the ball back.

No one in the Toffees line-up retrieves possession more, and they are both terrific pressers too.

Everton's top players in PL 2024/25

If those two can affect the quality of service that Liverpool supply to Salah, helped out by striker Calvert-Lewin, it is likely to help keep them in the match.

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