Everton vs Liverpool LIVE - goals, score, commentary stream

LIVEUpdated just nowEverton vs Liverpool LIVE - Blues unchanged as Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah start for RedsLive coverage of the historic Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool in the Premier League at Hill Dickinson Stadium, 2pm kick-offCommentsSportChristopher Beesley Everton reporter, Ian Doyle Chief Liverpool FC Writer, Joe Thomas, Paul Gorst Liverpool FC correspondent, Connor O'Neill Senior Sports Content Creator, Mark Jones Liverpool Content Editor - Sport and Paul Wheelock Head of sportWelcome to our live coverage of the first-ever Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Kick-off in the vital Premier League encounter is 2pm.

Beyond the usual bragging rights, it is a huge match. Victory for Everton would lift them up to sixth in the table and just two points behind their fifth-placed neighbours, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.

But should Liverpool emerge triumphant in their maiden trip to their rivals' new waterfront home, that would lift them seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea.

A draw would not be a bad result for either team but the momentum gained by winning would be huge going into the final five games of the campaign.

Joe Thomas, Chris Beesley, Connor O'Neill, Paul Gorst and Ian Doyle are at Hill Dickinson Stadium to bring you all the build-up to kick-off, including team news when it drops at 12.45pm, followed by an in-game commentary stream and the best post-match reaction and analysis.

Details on how you can watch the game can be found HERE.

New UpdatesKey EventsLiverpool team v Everton confirmedView PostToday13:42 BSTFourth time of askingJust watching the Everton forwards warm up and Beto missed three chances and missplaced a two yard return pass - hopefully he has got that out of his system because he did just slot in a low cross from Jake O'Brien.

I feel Beto could be key today. He has caused Liverpool's defence all sorts of issues in the last few years - he perhaps hasn't got the goal return he should have from those games but he can be a threat in this fixture. He enters the game in great form, too.

CommentsJoe ThomasToday13:42 BSTStrength in reserveAlthough Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall admitted before this fixture, David Moyes has been reminding his players this week that they can't afford another slow start today like they did in the reverse fixture at Anfield.

However, as the Blues boss himself said in his pre-match press conference, it's also important to finish the game well, so could any of these home substitutes prove to be heroes?

CommentsChris BeesleyToday13:36 BSTArne Slot explains why Alexander Isak is startingArne Slot has also been speaking to Sky Sports ahead of this afternoon’s game - and he has explained why he has once again started Alexander Isak.

The Dutchman said:

On the game, Slot said:

CommentsConnor O'Neill‌Today13:31 BST'I want to send a message to the players'David Moyes has been speaking to Sky Sports ahead of this afternoon game.

And the Scot said:

CommentsConnor O'NeillToday13:29 BSTJust one Scouser on the pitchIt's an historic day for sport in the city but in terms of Merseyside Derby personnel, we've gone back to where it all started some 132 years ago.

Everyone likes to see local lads in the team and both the Blues and Reds have each had their fair share of home-grown heroes in their teams but today, as Hill Dickinson Stadium hosts its first Merseyside Derby, there is just one Scouser on the pitch, just as it was all the way back in 1894, when Everton faced Liverpool first the first time in a league game and triumphed 3-0.

Back then it was Liverpool who named the solitary Scouser, Harry Bradshaw, in a line-up otherwise entirely comprised of Scottish players 'The team of Macs.'

Again it's the visitors who have the solitary Scouser in the shape of Curtis Jones, who once scored the winning goal in this fixture.

David Moyes could have picked Harrison Armstrong - the first Scouser to play in a competitive match at Hill Dickinson Stadium - but the West Derby prospect is not in the Blues' squad today.

CommentsChris BeesleyToday13:27 BSTBoos for the away sideLiverpool's players have just run onto the pitch, welcomed - as you would expect - by a chorus of boos from the home fans already in their seats.

CommentsJoe Thomas‌Today13:18 BSTTeam musingsSo with Jones expected to start at right-back and probably not likely to get tonnes of help off Mohamed Salah, it's a huge afternoon for the midfielder against the local rivals in an unfamiliar position. Up against the excellent Ndiaye, the midfielders are going to have to help out in spades, specifically Dominik Szoboszlai.

Florian Wirtz, for what feels like the umpteenth time this season, needs to come to the party today. We've said that an awful lot this season and while there have been encouraging signs, we're still awaiting the true lift-off of a player who cost an eye-watering £116m.

Mohamed Salah might have something in store, mind. Back in the goals last week and as bright as anyone against PSG, his final Merseyside derby might have a flourish in him.

CommentsPaul GorstToday13:13 BSTPickford applauseEverton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford receives a generous round of applause from the home fans in the South Stand as he comes out for his pre-match warm-up.

As always, the respective goalkeepers could play a big part in how today's game goes.

It's just been mentioned in Everton's pre-match 'Higher or Lower' game that the England number one has made 19 previous appearances in this fixture but for Liverpool's Giorgi Mamardashvili, this is his Merseyside Derby debut.

CommentsChris BeesleyToday12:56 BSTA perfect stage for a breakthrough momentDavid Moyes has settled on his first XI for the run-in, that much is now clear. But Everton can pack a punch from the bench. Tyrique George had good moments off the bench at Brentford last week and the Blues do have options if they need some attacking impetus late in the game. I can't help but feel one of George or Tyler Dibling will have a big moment in the run-in - what a time today would be for them to get their breakthrough moment for the Blues.

CommentsJoe Thomas‌Today12:52 BSTLiverpool team thoughtsWe're pretty sure Jones will be playing right-back today.

Good that Szoboszlai is in midfield, he'll provide a bit of bite.

Interesting Liverpool have named only eight subs and two are goalkeepers. Not a lot of choice for Slot in some areas.

CommentsIan DoyleToday12:49 BSTNo surprises over Everton line-upNo real surprises from an Everton point of view as David Moyes names an unchanged line-up from the side that drew 2-2 at Brentford last time out.

With Charly Alcaraz fit enough to return on the bench, only on-loan Jack Grealish is out for the Blues.

CommentsChris BeesleyToday12:46 BSTLiverpool team v Everton confirmedThe Liverpool team is locked in.

Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.

Subs: Woodman, Pecsi, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Frimpong, Nyoni, Ngumoha.

CommentsIan Doyle‌Today12:45 BSTEverton team confirmedEverton's line-up for the first Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium has been confirmed.

CommentsChris BeesleyToday12:45 BSTEverton XI: Blues go unchanged for the derbySame XI that started at Brentford for Everton today.

Pickford; Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O'Brien; Garner, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, McNeil; Beto

CommentsJoe ThomasToday12:38 BSTStreet full up for coach welcomeRegent Road was a sea of humanity and a sea of blue for the Everton fans' coach welcome.

CommentsChris Beesley‌Today12:31 BSTMore coach welcome picturesHere are some more close-up photographs from the Everton fans' coach welcome.

CommentsChris BeesleyToday12:29 BSTCoach welcome close upsI've just been out in the thick of it myself capturing footage from the Everton fans' coach welcome but here are some photos from the crowds.

CommentsChris BeesleyToday12:24 BSTHill Dickinson Stadium ready to make historyAn aerial shot of Hill Dickinson Stadium looking back towards Liverpool city centre ahead of today's historic first Merseyside Derby at Everton's new home.

CommentsChris Beesley‌Today12:22 BSTDerby memoriesBy my memory and count, this is the 76th Merseyside derby I have attended.

They've nearly all been rubbish.

CommentsIan DoyleToday12:17 BST'A rousing welcome'Incredible scenes outside Hill Dickison Stadium, and our man Chris Beesley has been right in the middle of it

CommentsConnor O'NeillToday12:15 BSTCarragher's thoughtsJamie Carragher has been speaking to the ECHO in the build-up to today's game and the boyhood-Blue-turned-Liverpool-legend does not believe the hosts should be considered favourites today.

CommentsPaul Gorst‌Today12:14 BSTRoars of the coach welcome audible inside the stadiumHello everyone, Joe Thomas here joining the fray. As everyone else prepares in the media room, I am one of a few reporters who has already taken their seat at the back of the West Stand. The pitch is a picture, the sprinklers are spraying jets of water over a gorgeous green playing surface and, on the touchline, I can see the various broadcasters setting up and delivering their pre-match coverage. Plenty of former players are here, from Pat Nevin and Peter Beardsley to Stephen Warnock and Chris Sutton, all on various broadcast duty.

You could be forgiven for thinking it is quiet here in the stadium. It isn't. I've been able to track the progress of the Everton team coach from the sound of the crowd outside the stadium walls. This will be some atmosphere.

CommentsJoe ThomasToday12:13 BSTDavid Moyes' pre-match thoughtsDavid Moyes believes this afternoon’s game gives Everton the chance to show the power of Hill Dickinson Stadium again.

CommentsConnor O'NeillToday12:08 BSTA big welcomeOur man Chris Beesley is outside the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and the crowds are building ahead of the Everton coach welcome

CommentsConnor O'Neill‌Today12:05 BSTGreetings from Hill Dickinson StadiumAfternoon and welcome to Hill Dickinson Stadium for what is a very big game for both sides. For Everton, a victory this afternoon would put them very much in the mix for Champions League football next season, while a win for Liverpool would almost certainly secure their place in next season’s Champions League. But as is often the case when it comes to Merseyside derby matches, quite literally anything could happen this afternoon.

CommentsConnor O'NeillToday12:03 BSTBoring derbiesRight, time for a dose of reality.

Almost all derbies are dull. Like really, really dull. And fans of both teams never look forward to them and always want them to be over as soon as they start.

Also - those who say the form book goes out the window is wrong. Usually, the form team emerges triumphant.

And that's bad news for Liverpool. Their results are really rubbish at the moment while Everton thumped Chelsea 3-0 here last time out.

Pressure on the Blues, then. Can they handle it? They tend not to.

CommentsIan DoyleToday12:01 BSTWelcome very muchA very actually warm welcome to the latest game in Liverpool's season.

Yes, it's the derby and it's Everton.

And it's also the first visit for the Reds to (the) Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Not my first visit, though, as I was here for the rugby league in November. A much better sport than football as anyone who has watched both at length readily agrees.

CommentsIan Doyle‌Today11:44 BSTBig chanceLocal rivalries aside, today is a huge opportunity for Liverpool to put some real, and potentially decisive daylight between themselves and Chelsea, who are sixth after a four successive Premier League defeat last night, at home to Manchester United.

Victory would send the Reds seven clear of the Londoners and even potentially into fourth, depending on Aston Villa's result at home to Sunderland at the same time.

Would a seven-point buffer be enough with five games to go and one of them being Chelsea at home at Anfield? The optimists among you might suggest it can be all but secured today.

But...it is derby day. Things rarely go to plan.

CommentsPaul GorstToday11:38 BSTBig day of footballThe Premier League fixtures for today in full are:

Aston Villa v Sunderland (2pm)

Everton v Liverpool (2pm)

Nottingham Forest v Burnley (2pm)

Manchester City v Arsenal (4pm)

CommentsPaul WheelockToday11:30 BSTTeam musingsThere's still over 75 minutes until team news drops here but what do we think Arne Slot should do with his lineup today?

Cody Gakpo will have to start through the centre for me, Alexander Isak was a gamble that didn't work on Tuesday night. The £125m striker had just five touches against PSG before he was withdrawn at half time. I think he needs to be left in reserve until the final 25 minutes or so when legs tire and he can impact the game more.

I'd also start Rio Ngumoha too and I think this is a day for Andy Robertson.

Mohamed Salah returns. Obviously.