Liverpool v Everton: FA Cup third-round tips, odds & Merseyside derby prediction

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Everton in the FA Cup third round at Anfield.

Where to watch

BBC 1, 4.01pm Sunday

Best bet

Divock Origi first scorer
1pt 13-2 Betway
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Team news

Liverpool
Naby Keita (groin) has joined Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the sidelines but new signing Takumi Minamino could make his debut.

Everton
Fabian Delph is expected to overcome a knock and Morgan Schneiderlin has fully recovered from a calf strain. Bernard has a minor injury and faces a late fitness check.

Match preview

Liverpool back-up striker Divock Origi was a Merseyside derby hero last month, scoring twice in a 5-2 demolition of Everton, and he could be the man to get stuck into the Toffees in the FA Cup third round.

Jurgen Klopp operates with a fairly small squad which has become stretched because of injuries to Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The German will not want to lose any more and has to be mindful of player fatigue as he prepares for a fourth game in 11 days.

Everton are going through a similarly tough schedule but have had an extra day to prepare since a 2-1 loss at Manchester City on New Year's Day.

And their squad looks in decent health with Morgan Schneiderlin available for the first time in four weeks and Bernard hoping to feature for the first time since Boxing Day.

It seems probable that Carlo Ancelotti will go with a strong side as he chases a result which would gain him huge acclaim among the Everton fanbase.

The bigger question marks are over who will be lining up for the home side.

With Liverpool 13 points clear in the title race and more than six weeks away from their return to Champions League action, there are grounds for them to take the FA Cup seriously.

But Klopp seems to thinking a different way, judging by his comments after Thursday's 2-0 victory at home to Sheffield United.

He said: "I won't tell Carlo Ancelotti tonight my line-up, but I will do what I think is right to do.

"Some things I can decide by myself, and some things the medical department will tell me."

Klopp mentioned that he has only 14 senior players available, including new signing Takumi Minamino and defender Nat Phillips, who has never played a senior game for Liverpool and only recently returned from a loan spell at Stuttgart.

Klopp's comments intensified a gamble on Everton, who have shortened from 6-1 to 13-5 to win the game and from 7-2 to 5-4 to qualify.

Everton may sense an opportunity but it is worth remembering they were not up against a full-strength Liverpool when losing heavily on December 4.

Klopp made five changes for the league game and benched two of his first choice front three – Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Fringe players stepped up to the plate, none more so than Origi, who set the tone for the contest with two goals in the opening 31 minutes.

It was far from the first time that Origi has delivered on a big occasion.

Origi's bizarre injury-time goal sealed Liverpool a dramatic 1-0 home win over Everton in December 2018 and he had a huge impact in the final rounds of the Champions League – notching twice in the 4-0 semi-final second-leg victory over Barcelona and once in the final against Tottenham.

Despite a lack of regular appearances, he is usually sharp and confident when called upon and may be ready to produce another match-winning performance.