Everton are heading to Anfield in their best shape in years and will pose a considerable challenge for Liverpool, Reds expert David Lynch has insisted.
Arne Slot’s side remain undefeated in the Premier League, having won all four of their games so far and currently sit top of the table. However, they face a stern test on Saturday against their Merseyside rivals Everton.
The Toffees are sixth in the league with seven points and have shown a notable offensive threat this season. The addition of players like Jack Grealish has added creative spark and dynamism to their attack.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch argued that David Moyes’s Everton will be a tougher challenge than in previous campaigns. He said:
“This is a much better Everton side than Liverpool have faced over the last few years. David Moyes is an absolutely brilliant manager — you saw it immediately.
He comes to Everton and turns them around almost immediately. He’s very good at what he does. One thing to note is that his Anfield record is not fantastic, but you look at the way that Everton are playing and I see confidence among their fans, which is not always the case when they come to Anfield. It’s a dangerous team.”
Grealish, who won the Premier League Player of the Month for August, has already registered four assists in the league this season.
### Should Alexis Mac Allister Remain on the Liverpool Bench?
Liverpool secured a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday at Anfield, with Slot opting to start a double pivot in midfield featuring Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.
The Dutch boss may have considered fielding Alexis Mac Allister in the middle, but the Argentine has struggled with fitness throughout the 2025-26 season after missing much of pre-season due to injury.
Lynch suggested that it might be wise to ease Mac Allister back into the lineup gradually. Speaking to Sports Mole, he said:
“I was surprised actually Slot didn’t [bench him] at Burnley. I thought that was going to be the change he made — to bring Bradley back in and put Szoboszlai in midfield.
If you want to look after Mac Allister, one way to go about it is to give him a couple of games off, or to dip him in and out over these next games and stick Bradley in at right-back.
Bradley proved when he came on at Turf Moor that he’s definitely going to deserve some starts. Frimpong was crucial to the goal and did well, so that competition at right-back is incredible.”
Mac Allister was also on the receiving end of a hard tackle to his ankle from Lesley Ugochukwu against Burnley, so managing his minutes carefully could be beneficial for his recovery.
### Where Could the Merseyside Derby Be Won or Lost?
Concerns remain over Liverpool’s defence, especially given that the Reds have surrendered two-goal leads three times already this season. However, substitutes have consistently made significant impacts for Liverpool, which could prove crucial on Saturday.
Lynch questioned whether Everton can capitalize on Liverpool’s vulnerabilities while also containing the Reds’ potent attack. He told Sports Mole:
“One thing Everton will worry about is whether they can make it pay because obviously they had that 0-0 draw against Aston Villa at the weekend.
I was talking to Leon Osman at Turf Moor, and he said that’s the one issue — Everton played well but just couldn’t score the goals. They don’t have a striker who can consistently do it.
The strength and depth throughout the Liverpool squad is unbelievable. There are some really difficult choices for the manager, not ones I would like to predict because it’s so difficult, though I did have a conversation with someone at Liverpool who said they expect more rotation this season.”
While Alexander Isak started against Atletico Madrid, he may not be fit enough to start on Saturday but could still make an impact off the bench in the second half.
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The upcoming Merseyside derby promises to be a fiercely contested encounter, with both sides confident but aware of the challenges ahead. Everton’s improved squad and Liverpool’s depth and quality mean fans can expect a thrilling match at Anfield.
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