Everton v Liverpool LIVE: Team news as Alexander Isak starts for injured Hugo Ekitike in historic Merseyside derby

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Everton v Liverpool LIVE: Isak starts as Ekitike replacement and Salah returns for Merseyside derby

Liverpool got to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time, looking to maintain their grip on fifth-place in the Premier League

Everton host Liverpool in an intriguing Merseyside Derby in the Premier League, the first to be held at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Liverpool finished 36 points ahead of Everton last season in a year where Arne Slot’s side were champions and the Toffees finished in the bottom half of the table under David Moyes. But both teams are involved in the fight for Champions League qualification this campaign with Liverpool, who are in fifth, arriving at the Hill Dickinson Stadium just five points ahead of Everton.

Liverpool went out of the Champions League in midweek, losing 2-0 in the second leg against holders Paris-Saint Germain, and were also dealt a major blow with Hugo Ekitike ruled out for the rest of the season.

The last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was an instant classic – an explosive 2-2 draw and four red cards after the final whistle – and Everton will hope for more fireworks as they welcome their fierce rivals at their new home.

Follow updates from Everton v Liverpool, below

The painful Liverpool decision created by Hugo Ekitike’s disastrous injury

To play Alexander Isak or not? That is the dilemma facing Arne Slot. Today, he has opted to start the Swede, with Hugo Ekitike’s injury absence rendering Isak crucial to Liverpool’s chances for the rest of the season.

However, Liverpool have lost four of the six Premier League matches Isak has started this season. Now they have six to go, with Champions League qualification on the line and no Ekitike.

As Mo Salah prepares to wave goodbye again, their hopes could rest on Isak salvaging something from his car crash of a season – or on Slot knowing when not to pick him.

Read Richard Jolly’s full analysis of the situation:

The painful Liverpool decision created by Hugo Ekitike’s disastrous injury

The Reds were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals, but without the injured Hugo Ekitike, writes Richard Jolly, Arne Slot faces a major call on Alexander Isak in the battle to finish inside the top five

Luke Baker19 April 2026 13:30

Liverpool arrive at the Hill Dickonson

Here’s how Liverpool pulled up for their first-ever game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium a little earlier.

Luke Baker19 April 2026 13:20

David Moyes happy to talk about Everton European hopes

David Moyes has done superbly in his second spell at Everton and they’re in a good position to qualify for Europe this season.

The Toffees are 10th in the table but only one point behind Chelsea in sixth ahead of today’s Merseyside derby - their game in hand. And there’s no reticence from Moyes in talking about the European ambitions.

“This is a great position that Everton are in,” he tells Sky Sports. “We’ve not been in this position for a long time. Why would we not talk it up?”

Luke Baker19 April 2026 13:12

Everton v Liverpool team news

It’s certainly an attacking line-up from Arne Slot today! Alexander Isak starts up tip but Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz are all in the team as well.

It looks like Dominik Szoboszlai will be the fill-in right-back once more (although feasibly, Curtis Jones could slot in there) and Alisson is still not fit enough to return, so Giorgi Mamardashvili continues between the sticks.

Everton line up pretty much as expected, with Dwight McNeil, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye providing the creative ingenuity behind Beto.

Everton XI: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Beto

Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak

Luke Baker19 April 2026 13:03

Everton team news

And here’s how Everton will line up. Beto leading the line for them

Luke Baker19 April 2026 12:52

Liverpool team news

Here’s the Liverpool team for this afternoon. We’ll have full analysis shortly but Alexander Isak starts up top in place of Hugo Ekitike

Luke Baker19 April 2026 12:50

Team news incoming

We’re a couple of minutes away from today’s team news. The big question of course is who will start up top for Liverpool in place of the injured Hugo Ekitike.

After a season-ending achilles injury to Ekitike, Arne Slot must now weigh up the risk of starting Alexander Isak, who is not ready to play 90 minutes, or use Cody Gakpo from the outset.

Luke Baker19 April 2026 12:43

Atmosphere building ahead of Merseyside derby

It should be a cracking atmosphere for the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium today.

Fans are flooding the streets around the ground already and anticipation is rising

Luke Baker19 April 2026 12:34

Key battle: James Garner vs Dominic Szoboszlai

One of the more intriguing contests today could be the middle of the pitch, with in-form James Garner up against Dominic Szoboszlai.

Liverpool will hope to win in this key area to act as the platform for a derby victory.

Both men have great engines, but its their passing that could also prove decisive.

The Hungary international is third in the league on 2.0 key passes per game, whike Garner has 1.4 per game.

While the England international has 3.0 tackles per game on average, putting him joint-second.

Jack Rathborn19 April 2026 12:22

Could Everton launch late bid for Champions League football?

With all the talk about Liverpool and qualifying for the Champions League again after their quarter-final exit midweek against PSG, could Everton suddenly find themselves in the hunt?

A win today against the Reds takes them within two points of their rivals in fifth. Here’s how their run-in looks:

Liverpool (H)

West Ham (A)

Man City (H)

Crystal Palace (A)

Sunderland (H)

Tottenham (A)

Jack Rathborn19 April 2026 12:10

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