2 days Ago By Felix Keith
Liverpool are facing a big selection headache in one position ahead of the Merseyside Derby against Everton due to injury woes. The Reds will host their rivals at Anfield on Wednesday night, following a 16-day break since their Carabao Cup final defeat by Newcastle . The international break has provided Liverpool with ample time to reflect on their 2-1 loss at Wembley and refocus their efforts on securing the Premier League title.
With a comfortable 12-point lead over second-placed Arsenal and just nine games left, their first challenge is the mid-week clash against Everton. This match comes merely 49 days after the last Merseyside Derby, which saw James Tarkowski score a dramatic injury-time equaliser for Everton at Goodison Park. Fortunately for manager Arne Slot , the international break has been relatively uneventful, with both Alisson Becker and Ryan Gravenberch expected to be fit despite withdrawing from their national teams.
Alisson suffered a concussion during Brazil's match against Colombia and was subsequently ruled out of the team's second World Cup qualifier. However, following an assessment by Liverpool 's medical staff, the goalkeeper is anticipated to be fit to start against Everton. Gravenberch, who withdrew from the Netherlands squad due to a minor issue, should also be ready to face Everton.
However, Slot faces a significant problem at right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle), Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez (both hamstring) all sidelined due to injuries. Liverpool vice-captain Alexander-Arnold, sidelined since the 1-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on March 11 and missing England's recent victories, is tipped for a comeback later in April. His absence, alongside Bradley and Gomez, paves the way for Jarell Quansah to step up.
Tyler Morton remains the only other Liverpool player out of contention. Meanwhile, Everton manager David Moyes faces his own injury woes with left-back Vitalii Mykolenko's thigh injury sustained on Ukraine duty casting a shadow over team selection. Mykolenko's exit during Ukraine 's 3-0 defeat by Belgium has prompted concern, with head coach Serhiy Rebrov admitting post-match: "Unfortunately, he has an injury.
He will do an MRI. We'll see. I know Vitalii.
If he didn't continue playing, then the injury was really serious." On March 19, Moyes provided updates on Dwight McNeil, Iliman Ndiaye, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, dampening hopes for a swift return post-international break: "I don't think we're necessarily going to have any of them back after the [international] break," he revealed. "But we've got three boys there – Dwight, Ili and Dom – who we could all do with seeing back if we could.
" McNeil has been out since December following a knee issue exacerbated in a 4-0 win over Wolves, while Ndiaye is recovering from medial ligament damage sustained in the first derby. But both players are in the running to face Liverpool , having made their return to training. However, Calvert-Lewin remains sidelined with a thigh injury and midfielder Orel Mangala is ruled out due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
This article originally appeared on the Mirror ..
