How Liverpool Will Line Up Against Everton

Liverpool make the short trip across Stanley Park for the 221st Merseyside derby on Saturday, looking to continue the momentum gained before the international break.

Manager Brendan Rodgers opted to revert to four at the back in their last outing against Fulham, playing what he described as a flexible 4-4-2 formation.

Prior to that, of course, the Northern Irishman had used a 3-4-1-2 formation. Therefore, one of his key decisions ahead of the clash with Everton will be whether to stick with a back four or change to a back three.

That decision will obviously have a huge influence over the Reds' starting XI.

Thankfully, Liverpool's international players have arrived back from national duty without injury—although the toll of their exploits will only be known after Saturday.  

Goalkeeper and Defence

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Will Rodgers stick with Cissokho at left-back?

Brad Jones started the last derby at Goodison Park, but Simon Mignolet's presence in goal is assured.

Assuming Rodgers sticks with a back four, it's at centre-back where Liverpool are most competitive. Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger started the last game, but Mamadou Sakho has been in impressive form for France on international duty.

The options are more limited at full-back, where Glen Johnson will start at right-back. Meanwhile, with Jose Enrique out, only Aly Cissokho is a natural left-back.

However, Cissokho has thus far struggled to impress in his Anfield career. Therefore, Rodgers may opt to play either Sakho or Agger at left-back, with the other partnering Skrtel or indeed Kolo Toure at the heart of defence.

Rodgers could throw a surprise and move Johnson over to left-back, but his options at right-back are equally limited with Andre Wisdom out on loan and Kolo Toure uncomfortable there. 

Midfield

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Rodgers has Coutinho back and ready for action.

Liverpool's midfield balance has been much debated this season, but despite this, Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard's partnership in midfield is assured.

Jordan Henderson too has become a key component of the Liverpool side, starting every Premier League game so far. His energy and pressing ability will be valuable in the midfield battle against Gareth Barry and James McCarthy.

The fourth midfielder will be the Brazilian magician Philippe Coutinho, tasked with unlocking the Toffees defence and providing the ammunition for Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in attack.

Against Fulham, Coutinho drifted inside from the left, while Henderson retained a more natural right-midfield position. He was equally important in central areas, though, allowing Johnson to overlap and provide width on the right. 

Forwards

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Rodgers will be hoping Sturridge is fully fit after England duty.

The use of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge for their respective countries must have been a source of much frustration behind closed doors at Anfield.

Sturridge was ruled out of England's first friendly with Chile, but declared fit for the match against Germany despite still struggling with the thigh injury that has plagued him lately. Roy Hodgson then proceeded to play him for the full 90 minutes at Wembley.

Meanwhile, Suarez played the full 90 minutes for Uruguay in both of their World Cup play-off games, despite qualification being pretty assured after their 5-0 hammering of Jordan in the first leg.

The second-leg kicked off at 11 p.m. (UK time) on Wednesday night, finishing in the early hours of Thursday. Suarez was on the receiving end of some crude challenges throughout the 0-0 draw. His swift return was enabled by the use of John W. Henry's private jet. Even so, it's not ideal preparation.  

Likely XI

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Even the subs bench is starting to look strong.

The starting XI is likely to be the same as the side that saw off Fulham 4-0 last time out—with perhaps the only change being Mamadou Sakho replacing Aly Cissokho and either Sakho or Daniel Agger starting at left-back.

A sign of the changing times at Liverpool is the players that will make up the substitutes for Rodgers.

Joe Allen and Luis Alberto will add midfield options, Victor Moses and Raheem Sterling provide attacking options, while Kolo Toure adds defensive cover.

Likely XI: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Sakho; Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho; Suarez, Sturridge.