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Sunday, April 19, 2026, promises pure football passion as Everton welcome arch-rivals Liverpool to their sparkling new home — the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
This marks the very first Merseyside Derby at the venue, and the atmosphere is sure to be electric. Local pride, bragging rights, and crucial points in the race for European football are all on the line.
Everton currently sit in 8th place with 47 points from 32 games (13 wins, 8 draws, 11 losses; 39 goals scored, 37 conceded). Under David Moyes, the Toffees have been tough to break down and dangerous on the counter.
A strong home record gives them real belief they can end a long wait for a Premier League victory over their neighbours.
Liverpool, sitting in 5th place with 52 points (15 wins, 7 draws, 10 losses; 52 goals for, 42 against), arrive needing a response.
Arne Slot’s side has shown patchy form recently, including a few heavy defeats, and they’re fighting to keep their Champions League hopes alive. A win here would steady the ship — but derbies have a habit of ignoring league positions.
Recent Form: Grit vs Quality Under Pressure
Everton have looked solid and organized in recent weeks, mixing resilient defending with quick transitions. Players like Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil bring flair and threat, while the backline (led by James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite) makes life difficult for opponents.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency, with three losses in their last few outings across competitions. Fatigue from a demanding schedule, including European nights, may be showing. Yet their attacking talent — especially when firing on all cylinders — remains capable of producing moments of brilliance.
Head-to-Head Story: Liverpool hold the overall edge historically, but Everton have been remarkably hard to beat at home in recent derbies. Many of the last encounters at Goodison Park ended in draws, and the Toffees haven’t lost a home league derby since late 2021. Expect intensity, strong tackles, and possibly some late drama.
Team News & Likely Lineups
Everton (predicted 4-2-3-1):
Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Beto.
Out: Jack Grealish (foot injury — season over).
No major fresh doubts reported. David Moyes has a largely settled and motivated squad ready for the occasion.
Liverpool (predicted 4-2-3-1):
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez (or Robertson); Gravenberch, Szoboszlai (or Mac Allister); Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo (or others); Isak.
Major absences: Hugo Ekitike (Achilles rupture — out for many months), Joe Gomez (discomfort), Alisson Becker (still sidelined), plus longer-term issues for Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, and Giovanni Leoni.
Mo Salah is expected to feature prominently — this could be one of his final derbies depending on his future.
Liverpool’s defense looks stretched, which could give Everton’s attackers extra space to exploit.
What to Expect: Prediction & Key Angles
This derby is famously unpredictable — form often counts for little when the two sides meet. Models give Liverpool a slight edge (around 40-45% chance of victory), with Everton at roughly 30-35% and a draw possible in about 25% of simulations. Many previews lean toward a narrow Liverpool win (1-2) or a tense 1-1 draw.
Betting trends suggest it could be cagey early on, with Both Teams To Score carrying appeal and over 2.5 goals a realistic possibility if the game opens up. Everton’s home passion and defensive structure make them dangerous value as underdogs or on the double chance.
Key battles to watch:
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté trying to contain Beto and Ndiaye
Mohamed Salah’s creativity against Everton’s compact midfield
Set-pieces, where both sides can be potent
Fatigue after midweek action, the new stadium factor, and raw derby emotion could all play a part. Everton will fight for every ball to make history at their new ground, while Liverpool need quality and composure to grind out a vital three points.
