Everton handed blow as midfield mainstay doubtful for Liverpool clash - report
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Everton handed blow as midfield mainstay doubtful for Liverpool clash - report

Mark Smith
Mark Smith

Assistant Editor AUTHORITY Senior editor responsible for daily news flow, sub-hub management, and maintaining editorial standards across the site network. FOCUS Editorial oversight, newsroom workflow, and verified reporting. THE BRIEF Former Leeds United correspondent Mark has risen through the ranks at Breaking Media Limited to manage the network’s daily output. He works between the reporters and the experts to ensure the data and the news are applied correctly to every story.

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Everton midfielder Fabian Delph is a doubt for the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, according to the Liverpool Echo.

There is a question mark over the Toffees mainstay after missing parts of training at Goodison Park over the past week.

Everton welcome Liverpool to Goodison a week on Sunday and completed a friendly among their own squad on Saturday.

Everton

Delph has picked up a muscle strain and added to Carlo Ancelotti's injury problems with Andre Gomes also struggling with a setback.

The Liverpool Echo has reported that the England international is hopeful of returning to training in the build-up to the clash, but it is uncertain how close he is to that.

Carlo Ancelotti will be wanting a full-fit squad to choose from against the league leaders, but with Delph, Gomes, Yerry Mina and Theo Walcott all picking up injuries, it's completely the opposite.

Everton

Delph has played a big part in the Toffees' squad this season. The 30-year-old has made 16 appearances, both in midfield and on the left-hand side of the defence.

Lucas Digne will obviously play at left-back against Liverpool, and the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Tom Davies and Gylfi Sigurdsson could all fill in midfield if needed too.

The 30-year-old's 1.6 tackles per game according to WhoScored shows his no-nonsense approach in midfield and something that the Toffees could massively miss in the Merseyside derby.

In other Everton news, Athletic journalist: Blues held talks with Leeds over potential friendly before PL restart

Everton
Fabian Delph
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