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
Everton 1-1 Liverpool, 56 mins
Things going from bad to worse for Liverpool. Giorgi Mamardashvili is down and in considerable pain. The stretcher is coming on and the Georgian will be carted off.
Liverpool will have to bring on their third-choice keeper, Freddie Woodman for his Premier League debut for the Reds! His dad, Andy, has already had a great weekend – he’s manager of Bromley and they secured promotion to League One yesterday
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Liverpool (Beto, 55 mins)
THERE’S THE EQUALISER! Everton back level and it’s Beto who gets their first Merseyside derby goal at the new ground.
Dewsbury-Hall runs into the channel, holds off Konate and fizzes a beautifully-weighted low ball across the box that Beto slides in! Huge roars from the Everton crowd and they’re right back in this
Everton 0-1 Liverpool, 52 mins
Heavy touch from Mo Salah to give the ball away after great work by Wirtz.
Everton are hustling here, trying to create something for themselves. But the red wall is holding firm and nicking the ball back.
Liverpool then try to counter but Branthwaite with a hard, clean sliding tackle on Isak on halfway to knock the ball away when he had room to run into.
Everton 0-1 Liverpool, 48 mins
No changes at half-time for either side. Everton haven’t come from behind to win a Merseyside derby since December 1992, so they’ll need to overcome the weight of history here.
They surge forward early in this second half after Jones gives the ball away, Ndiaye clips the ball across from a dangerous position on the left but no one is there.
KICK-OFF! Everton 0-1 Liverpool
Back underway at the HDS (is that a thing…?) Everton need at least one goal to ensure this auspicious occasion doesn’t end in defeat
Streets turn blue outside Hill Dickinson Stadium ahead of Merseyside Derby
It’s been an incredible atmosphere so far and that started before the game, outside the ground.
HALF-TIME! Everton 0-1 Liverpool
And that’s half-time in the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Mohamed Salah made history by scoring the first goal in this fixture at the new ground but that was moments after Iliman Ndiaye thought he’d opened the scoring for Everton, only for VAR to intervene with an offside.
There’s not been much between the sides but Liverpool take a lead into the break
Everton 0-1 Liverpool, 45+1 mins
Isak fashions an opportunity to shoot but his effort is tame and straight at Pickford. You’d expect better from the Swede there
Everton 0-1 Liverpool, 45 mins
That’s a real waste from Liverpool. They pinch the ball as Everton play out from the back again, Gakpo burst into the left edge of the box and then tries to feed Robertson on the overlap but it’s clumsy and can be shepherded out for a goal-kick. Poor from Gakpo.
Into two minutes of injury time.
