Liverpool FC: Predicting the Starting XI vs. Everton for the Merseyside Derby

Liverpool face one of their biggest challenges of every Premier League season on Saturday—the short trip across Stanley Park to take on Everton at Goodison Park in the Merseyside derby.

The same fixture last season saw a woeful performance from the Reds end up as a 2-0 defeat, while a 2-2 draw back at Anfield provided at least some comfort.

Going into the game Liverpool have recovered from consecutive league defeats to record two wins on the bounce against Brighton in the League Cup and Wolves in the Premier League.

A victory at Goodison will send Liverpool into the top four for at least a few hours, depending on Newcastle's result at Wolves later in the day. An Everton victory will send the Blues above the Reds on goal difference.

Here are the starting 11 players and substitutes whom I believe should be named for this biggest clash of all—go ahead and comment and leave your own below.

Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina

No contest or question here. Reina starts.

Right-Back: Martin Kelly

Martin Kelly is still getting back to 100 percent sharpness, but he has to play for me. A debut derby match for the young defender but I have no doubts he'll be up for the challenge.

Glen Johnson is back in training but even if he is fit enough for the game, he should have no chance of starting it after just one substitute appearance so far this season.

Left-Back: Jose Enrique

Can't imagine too many Reds would be wanting to change this position. Jose Enrique has made a very good start to his Liverpool career and I can see him having a decent impact against the Everton right side, which isn't always as offensive-minded as their left.

Central Defence: Jamie Carragher

Few players accumulate the derby experience that Carragher has amassed, and he is an obvious starter for Liverpool who has played every match this season so far with the exception of Exeter.

Carragher is a leader and, contrary to what the mainstream media might want to bleat, is in decent form and is arguably the biggest part of Liverpool's defence after Reina.

Central Defence: Martin Skrtel

The Merseyside derby is no place for a raw and largely untested South American centre-back with one-and-a-half games Premier League experience under his belt.

Coates may emerge into a fine defender and a real option for the first team by the end of this season, but it would not be doing him any favours being thrust straight into this match.

Martin Skrtel is a long way from the assured and reliable defender a lot still seem to make him out to be, but with Agger injured, Skrtel is our next best option and should be partnered with Carragher at the back.

Right Midifield: Dirk Kuyt

If you're looking for a derby hero, you need look no further than this man. Five goals against Everton make him one of the current players' joint-top scorers between the two sides.

Kuyt has been on the bench in recent games but his work ethic, infectious enthusiasm and his excellent link-up play will all be required in this match far more than Jordan Henderson's peripheral efforts and lesser-spotted crossing ability.

A definite starter for me.

Central Midfield: Lucas Leiva

One of the first picks on most people's team-sheets these days, Lucas has not been at his most imperious this season just yet but is still an integral part of the team and usually revels in this type of game.

He will break up the Everton midfield play, which they should have a fair bit of considering they usually start without any strikers on the pitch, and offer quick passes to the flanks and his teammates further forward.

Look out for a few unexpected bursts forward to support the attack too if he is partnered with the next man on my slide...

Central Midfield: Jay Spearing

Jay Spearing hasn't started a league game yet this season, so it might be a bit of a stretch for him to come straight in and play in the derby, but there is no doubt he would be up for the challenge.

He made his derby debut last season when Kenny Dalglish threw him straight into the team at Anfield and acquitted himself well.

Spearing would provide a good foil for Lucas, doing the defensive work, and has a decent range of passing in the final third too. He is also getting closer to finally breaking his Liverpool duck—how he'd love that first goal to come in the derby.

Everton tend to push a lot of midfielders forward to attack the box when they get the ball wide, and Spearing is better at dealing with this type of attack than Charlie Adam, which is why he gets the nod for me.

Left Midfield: Stewart Downing

Downing had a very lively start to his Liverpool career but his form mirrored that of the team somewhat with a mini-slump recently. Now would be an excellent time to step it up again.

His pace, directness and play with his teammates make him a very real threat for the Reds. He and Jose Enrique can cause some damage again with their link-ups on the left flank in this game.

Support Forward: Steven Gerrard

He's not going to be back to his best, he's not going to be at full pelt, and he's not going to last the 90 minutes.

But an hour of Gerrard at 80 percent is more than worth having in the derby.

Of course, we don't really know if he is close enough to fitness to start a game at this point, but he has certainly had a lot of training time and has been going slow with his recuperation and his two fleeting appearances from the bench. If he is far enough along his recovery to start, I'd definitely like to see him in there; it would be a massive boost to fans and players alike to see his name back in the first 11.

From a tactical point of view Gerrard can easily make up a fifth player in midfield when needed and get forward to support the attack quickly.

Forward: Luis Suarez

For once, Liverpool seem to have a few decent options for up front and arguably a case could be made for any of the four attackers at the club to start this game.

Bellamy's pace would absolutely trouble Everton's disciplined and able but far-from-lightning back-line, while Carroll will hope to get the nod after an improved display against Wolves.

However, for movement, tenacity, harassing of the defence and pure goal-scoring ability, Suarez has to start. With Gerrard getting the spot behind him, only one out-and-out forward gets the chance to start this game.

Everybody wants to see the link of Gerrard and Suarez pay dividends, but it is Dirk Kuyt who has shown the best and most consistent link with the Uruguayan until now. We have already seen Kuyt and Gerrard do well together for years too. Throw in an in-form Downing to the mix and that is four extremely talented and able attackers to hit Everton with.

A clinical edge in this game is a must as a Merseyside derby can swing from one team's dominance to the other in the space of a few minutes.

Substitutes

Doni will take his usual spot as back-up goalkeeper.

Sebastian Coates and John Flanagan provide the defensive cover, though if Glen Johnson or Fabio Aurelio have sufficiently recovered they could take Flanagan's place.

The midfield spots pick themselves as a result of both players being previously first team players usurped from their positions for this game—Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson will be disappointed not to start but their performances need to pick up. Maxi Rodriguez should miss out again.

Craig Bellamy and Andy Carroll will be the obvious choices on the bench to change a game in the final third.

Karl Matchett will be providing live text commentary of the game between Everton and Liverpool on Saturday, 1st October with kick off at 12:45 pm UK / 7:45 am ET, right here on Bleacher Report.