Everton Predicted XI: Who will make Carlo Ancelotti’s starting XI on Saturday as they host local rivals Liverpool in Merseyside derby at Goodison Park

Everton Predicted XI: Who will make Carlo Ancelotti’s starting XI on Saturday as they host local rivals Liverpool in Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Following what’s felt like a very long week of international football, it’s exciting to have the Premier League back this weekend and there’s some epic clashes on show.

Perhaps the biggest, is the Merseyside derby on Saturday lunchtime as current table-toppers Everton host the current Premier League champions.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp will be well aware that his side’s last outing was the devastating 7-2 loss at Aston Villa and will be desperate for his team to bounce back.

Everton on the other hand have been in sensational form at the start of the campaign, having won all four of their league games under Carlo Ancelotti.

Here we predict Everton’s starting XI…

Goalkeeper:

Everton and England’s number 1 has come under a lot of criticism in recent months, but Ancelotti and Gareth Southgate still stick by their shot-stopper. The ex-Sunderland man will again take the number one jersey tomorrow lunchtime, where he will be expecting to have a busy game up against Liverpool’s potent attacking trio.

Defenders:

Everton’s defence is a big part of why they currently sit top of the league. The back four have been in tremendous form for the Toffees and will be expected to start tomorrow’s crunch game. Luca Digne will be deployed at left back, with the experienced Seamus Coleman on the other side. What’s been most impressive for Everton has been the centre back partnership of Michael Keane and Yeri Mina who have defended well and chipped in with goals also.

Midfielders:

Unfortunately for Everton, summer signing Allan is likely to miss his first Merseyside derby due to injury. That allows another chance for Tom Davies to show Ancelotti what he can do having performed well against the Toffees’ 4-2 win against Brighton. A summer acquisition that will be available is Abdoulaye Doucouré, who has been a rock for Everton in the midfield getting up and down the pitch. We expect Gylfi Sigurðsson to make up the midfield three.

Forwards:

There could be more injury woes for Ancelotti in the attacking areas of the pitch, with both Richarlison and James Rodriguez playing internationals in south America over the last week. Either man will be a big loss for the home side, with Theo Walcott, likely to come in, but we expect Ancelotti to take a risk. However, the Toffees’ main attacking threat is likely to come from the bang-in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Predicted XI: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne, Davies, Dacoure, Sigurdson, Richarlison, Rodriguez, Calvert-Lewin