Liverpool FC will face Everton FC in the Merseyside Derby next Sunday on their return to the Premier League – a fixture which could result in Liverpool being crowned as Premier League champions.
This article will look into numerous ‘key battles’ from the two teams ahead of their clash with one another on June 21, 2020.
Mo Salah (Liverpool FC)
Mohammed Salah has established himself as a fundamental part of Jurgen Klopp’s attacking trio alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino since joining the club in 2018 – scoring 72 goals with 25 assists for the Reds.
Although there has been speculation regarding Salah’s future at the club and talk that Mo has become increasingly selfish in possession this year, these headlines have not stopped the Egyptian from having another stellar campaign so far this season – scoring a total of 16 goals and six assists from 26 Premier League appearances.
His clinical goals against Manchester United FC and Watford FC proved to be vital towards pushing Liverpool FC over the line as the Reds continued to expand upon their lead at the top of the league table.
Given that Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have also been in fine form as well this season, it is expected that Liverpool FC’s front three will be able to grab at least one goal against Everton FC.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton FC)
One man who has provided the Evertonians with fond memories from their current campaign is centre forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin who sits just behind Salah with 13 goals and one assist from 27 Premier League games this season.
Like Mo, who has been injured for just 27 days since his return to the Premier League almost three seasons ago, Calvert-Lewin has established himself as a reliable option for Carlo Ancelotti having featured in all but two of Everton FC’s fixtures so far this season.
Ancelotti has said that Calvert-Lewin has the potential to be “one of Europe’s best strikers” after witnessing his impressive ability to head the ball and his goal return rate which have helped him to become one of the Premier Leagues most in-form strikers in recent months alongside making him a strong contender for the England national team.
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool FC)
In 2011, Jordan Henderson was told that he could leave Liverpool FC to join Fulham, and even after the former Sunderland man was given the captains armband from Liverpool FC legend Steven Gerrard in 2015, he would often be used as a scapegoat for Liverpool FC’s problems on the pitch.
In 2020 though, Henderson has become a leader on and off the field – a role model for his fellow teammates whose leadership led Liverpool FC to their sixth European Cup last season and has sent them on their way to becoming champions of England.
With the 29-year-old pushing those around him to achieve more and work harder, there is no doubt that he will be up for the chance to secure his first Premier League title when the Reds travel to Goodison Park in a few days’ time.
Mason Holgate (Everton FC)
Whilst Liverpool FC supporters have been able to witness Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in the form of their career’s this season, Everton FC’s midfield has been plagued with average performances from the start of their campaign.
With this being said, 23-year-old Mason Holgate has been the best individual for Everton FC in the centre of the pitch despite the fact that his season has slumped somewhat in their more recent games.
Holgate has been praised by Evertonians for his superb touch of the ball, the accuracy and sharpness of his passes and how well he is able to read the game – all of which have the potential to cause problems for Liverpool FC.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool FC)
With a current market value of around £90 million, Virgil Van Dijk has established himself as one of the most prolific defenders in world football during his time in a Liverpool FC shirt and the Dutch national team captain has treated supporters to more of the same so far this season.
The centre back has gifted Liverpool FC’s defence with a sense of structure and calmness which was often non-existent before his arrival in 2018. His sudden bursts of pace and his dominance on the ball and in the air make him an almost impossible presence for attackers to get past, meaning that Everton will need to be on top of their game if they are to secure all three points against Liverpool.
Lucas Digne (Everton FC)
It has been said that the best left-backs in the league play on Merseyside – one being the Red’s Andrew Robertson and the other being Lucas Digne from Everton FC.
As Everton FC’s 2018-2019 player of the season, Digne has become one of the Premier League’s most offensive defenders. The Frenchman only was beaten by Liverpool FC right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in terms of the aggressive passes he makes and ranks 7th in the league in terms of goal-creating-actions per 90 minutes.
With Digne constantly putting in dangerous balls in for teams to worry about, he poses a real threat to Van Dijk and the rest of Liverpool FC’s defence – presenting himself as someone to look out for when the Reds return to action.
