Everton team news v Liverpool – Six stars ‘ruled out’, one major doubt
Everton are without six first-team players for the Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The game on 12 February will be the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park as Everton prepare to move to their new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium next season.
Therefore, David Moyes and Co will be determined to put on a good showing and possibly cause an upset over Premier League table-toppers Liverpool.
However, the Scottish veteran will have to do that without as many as seven of his first-team players, with Ben Dinnery providing the latest team news.
Dwight McNeil among six players ruled out
Dwight McNeil, Seamus Coleman and Youssef Chermiti are “ruled out” of the clash with the Reds, according to Dinnery.
The injury expert reported via his Premier Injuries website (11 February) that the aforementioned trio will not return to action until 26 February, meaning they are likely to miss the games against Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja, meanwhile, face a longer wait, with their return dates set in March and April, respectively.
As for Orel Mangala, his season is all but done as Dinnery does not expect him to return until November, by when he would have returned to Lyon upon the expiry of his loan contract.
Vitalii Mykolenko a major doubt for Everton
Among Everton’s current injured players, only Vitalii Mykolenko has a chance of featuring against Arne Slot’s side on Wednesday.
The Ukraine international is “currently being assessed” and has a 50 per cent chance of playing against the Anfield outfit.
This comes after the left-back missed Everton’s 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth in the FA Cup on Saturday, 8 February.
He remains a major doubt for the Toffees ahead of the Merseyside derby and Moyes will surely be facing a nervous wait to find out if he can play or not.
Should Mykolenko be ruled out, Moyes could deploy Ashley Young at left-back.
However, the 39-year-old would need to be at the top of his game to keep Mohamed Salah at bay, although Trent Alexander-Arnold may not be fit to start.