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| Everton host Liverpool in the 225th Merseyside derby on Sunday |
THE 225th Merseyside derby takes place at Goodison Park on Sunday with Everton hosting Liverpool.
Just a point separates the teams in the Premier League and yet the momentum lies with Roberto Martinez’s side.
Here News News Blog Sport picks a combined Everton-Liverpool side which will not make pleasant reading for one half of the city.
GOALKEEPER AND DEFENCE
Liverpool’s ongoing issues in defence mean this is a relatively straight forward choice and one dominated by blue.
Tim Howard (Everton)
Howard is primarily a shoe-in because of the erratic Simon Mignolet. The Liverpool goalkeeper improved in the second half of last season, but has looked susceptible again this term.
Howard came through his own dip in form and while Everton will have to think about replacing him sooner rather than later, he takes the goalkeeper’s jersey.
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| Seamus Coleman (right) and John Stones would both be in a combined XI |
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
Coleman is hoping to be fit following a hamstring injury and goes head to head with Nathaniel Clyne for the right-back berth.
Clyne has provided pace and power since signing for Liverpool from Southampton in the summer. Coleman has similar qualities and an increased goal threat means he gets the nod.
John Stones (Everton)
England’s best young defender has reacted well to the fall-out from Chelsea’s aborted move for him in the summer.
He brings poise to the defence and is comfortable with the ball at his feet, happy to accept the responsibility of starting attacks. Overall, he is an antidote to the panic often seen in Liverpool’s defence.
Phil Jagielka (Everton)
The quality of Jagielka’s performances have been largely overlooked with the spotlight having been on Stones, but he is Everton’s best player.
His presence gives Stones licence to get on the ball in the knowledge that he if does make a mistake Jagielka will be covering for him. He would be captain in this team.
Brendan Galloway (Everton)
Alberto Moreno has impressed for Liverpool, but Brendan Rodgers plays him at left wing-back because of concerns over his defensive aptitude.
Galloway completes an all-Everton backline, therefore, following his seamless step up into the first team. Galloway has seized the opportunity created by Leighton Baines’ ankle injury and combines great athleticism with technique. His progress has been eye-catching.
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| James Milner (right) has proven himself in central midfield this season |
MIDFIELD
The midfields of both teams are much of a muchness. In a 4-2-3-1 formation, the two could easily be Gareth Barry and James Milner or Lucas and James McCarthy. It probably says much that Barry-McCarthy would currently convince more than Milner-Lucas.
James Milner (Liverpool)
It would have been easy to select Lucas. Had Jordan Henderson not been injured, Lucas would probably be on loan at Besiktas now and Rodgers would be deeper in the mire.
But Milner stepped up against Aston Villa last weekend, scoring a goal and conjuring an assist, having previously found the transition from Manchester City to Liverpool tougher than he might of expected. Given the front four in this team, his energy and bite in midfield would be important.
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| James McCarthy (right) would partner Milner in midfield |
James McCarthy (Everton)
Gareth Barry has the best passing range of the four main options in midfield and can feel hard done to.
But McCarthy has proved increasingly influential for Everton. He signed a long-term contract in the summer and manager Roberto Martinez will expect more from him this season.
ATTACK
In a 4-4-2 formation, it would have been difficult to have Ross Barkley and Philippe Coutinho both in positions where they are most comfortable. The inclusion of both Daniel Sturridge and Romelu Lukaku is a must.
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| England duo Daniel Sturridge (right) and Ross Barkley are top pics |
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)
Sturridge would nominally start on the right, but be encouraged to roam where he wants and not expected to track back too much.
He showed with his goals against Aston Villa that he can be as good as he wants to be and for Liverpool the difference is like night and day. Can be the best in the Premier League if he stays fit.
Ross Barkley (Everton)
A pivotal season for Barkley has started well and he already has more goals and more assists than in the whole of last season.
e is more careful in his use of the ball and best when able to find pockets of space. There remains plenty of room for improvement and the challenge is to maintain a level of consistency.
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| Philippe Coutinho has caught the eye of Barcelona |
Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
How long he remains a Liverpool player remains to be seen with rumours of interest from Barcelona stirring, but he carries so much of the creative responsibility for Rodgers’ side.
He dropped deeper against Aston Villa last week and started many of the attacks. He is on the same wavelength as Sturridge and is an easy pick.
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| Romelu Lukaku boasts six goals for Everton this season |
Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
Possesses the strength of character to focus on what he does well rather than be weighed down by the things he does badly.
Lukaku was poor in the first half against West Brom on Monday night, failing to link up with his team-mates and a peripheral influence. Then he scores a headed goal, follows with an assist for Arouna Kone before bundling home the winner.
Subs:
Mignolet (Liverpool), Sakho (Liverpool), Ings (Liverpool), Deulofeu (Everton), Naismith (Everton), Clyne (Liverpool), Barry (Everton).
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