Liverpool vs Everton Prediction: Foul-magnet Grealish could attract 5/1 Szoboszlai card

The first Merseyside derby of the 2025/26 season takes place at Anfield on Saturday (12:30 BST, TNT Sports 1), with the Reds looking to maintain their 100% start. The Blues aren't in bad shape themselves, claiming seven Premier League points from the last nine on offer.

Below are my Liverpool vs Everton predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Curtis Jones (unspecified) was Liverpool's only major injury absentee on Wednesday as the reigning Premier League champions put on another late show to beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 in the Uefa Champions League at Anfield. The 24-year-old midfielder could return this weekend, with Arne Slot suggesting earlier in the week that he was close to full fitness.

Federico Chiesa is back available after being left out of the Reds' European squad, and the Italian is expected to return to the bench for Saturday's derby.

There are a few selection dilemmas ahead for Slot, with Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Hugo Ekitike all pushing for recalls to the starting XI. Conor Bradley will also be eying a first club start of the campaign.

British record signing Alexander Isak is expected to drop down to the bench after starting in midweek.

Football Odds

"We'll see" was the response from David Moyes on Friday when quizzed about the availability of Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko for Saturday's short trip to Anfield. Branthwaite (hamstring) hasn't featured for Everton since a pre-season friendly with AS Roma on August 9, while Mykolenko (muscle) has played just one Premier League game this season, at Wolves on August 30.

The defenders appear to be Everton's only injury concerns, with Adam Aznou and Nathan Patterson recently returning to the fold.

Moyes could name the same starting XI that lined up in the goalless draw at Aston Villa last Saturday, with Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye supporting Beto in attack.

Today's Football Fixtures

Liverpool vs Everton Odds

Liverpool have won the last four Merseyside derbies at Anfield without conceding, recording three 2-0 victories before triumphing 1-0 in April this year through the late, great Diogo Jota. The Reds are 4/9 to beat the Blues again at home, implying a 69.2% probability of success, while Everton, who have never won at their rivals' ground under Moyes, are 6/1, or a 14.3% chance, to cause an upset on Saturday.

The draw is priced at 18/5, both teams to score at 4/5, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/13.

Isak (1/1), Mohamed Salah (21/20) and Ekitike (6/5) head the anytime goalscorer market, with Beto (11/4) first up for the Toffees.

Player to Receive a Card - Dominik Szoboszlai (LIV) @ 5/1

You'll see that I have Dominik Szoboszlai starting in midfield in my predicted XI, but it's a toss of a coin really. Many others will have the Hungarian starting at right-back, following a couple of excellent recent performances in the position.

Bradley or Jeremie Frimpong are more likely to start there, in my opinion, on Saturday, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Mac Allister back in midfield and Szoboszlai operating on the right again.

Regardless, whether it's him playing the role of right-back or him shuttling across from midfield, I think Szoboszlai is likely to spend a lot of time down that side of the pitch on Saturday, trying to contain the talents of August's Premier League Player of the Month, Grealish.

The Everton winger, on loan from Manchester City, has provided four assists so far for the Toffees, and has won his new side plenty of free-kicks, too.

Grealish has been fouled 11 times across his three league starts, attracting yellow-card challenges from Brighton's Mats Wieffer and Aston Villa's Matty Cash, both of whom were playing as right-backs.

Frimpong (4/1), booked seven times for Bayer Leverkusen last season, and Bradley (2/1), who has received four yellows in five appearances for club and country this term, should definitely be considered in this market if either starts on Saturday.

But Szoboszlai should play the majority, if not all, of this weekend's Merseyside derby, and is likely to pop up everywhere to help his side nullify the threat of Everton's attackers. He could also be forced to defend against Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall, who are averaging two and 1.8 fouls won per Premier League game, respectively, this season; Ndiaye has forced three opponents into the book already.

Szoboszlai picked up six yellows in 33 league appearances last season and is averaging 1.2 fouls per game in 2025/26. His first card of the current campaign came for Hungary in their 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland earlier this month.

Player to Have 2 or More Shots - Idrissa Gana Gueye (EVE) @ 4/1

I like the look of another long-shot selection.

Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye isn't particularly well regarded for his attacking prowess, evidenced by his failure to score in any of his 37 Premier League appearances last season, although he did strike four times in 25 competition outings in 2023/24.

Still, the Senegal international isn't shy to try his luck, with a shots-per-game average of 0.7 last season, a decent number considering he's a defensive midfielder and Everton struggled for the most part.

Gueye didn't register an attempt at goal in either Merseyside derby, but he had an effort saved at Goodison Park in the 2023/24 campaign and saw a long-range effort miss the target at Anfield in 2022/23, meaning he has shot in half (two) of his last four matches against Liverpool.

The 35-year-old is averaging 1.5 shots per game in this season's Premier League, despite failing to take aim against Brighton & Hove Albion in his side's second match. Gueye shot once against Leeds United, three times against Wolves, and twice against Aston Villa.

A lot will depend on game state, as it's tough to imagine Gueye taking a couple of shots if the Toffees are either level or in front; they would snap your hand off for a point before kick-off.

But, should Liverpool go in front at any stage, the visitors may have to come out of their shell a little more, and we could see a few long-range attempts as they look to get back into proceedings. Four of Gueye's five shots this season have come from outside the 18-yard box, so he's willing to try his luck from anywhere.

Offers

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down

We will be Top Price on Liverpool to beat Everton with selected bookmakers using Oddschecker for the comparison. (Available from 07:30 Saturday)

Double Delight & Hat-Trick Heaven: Get double or treble the odds if your winning First Goalscorer bet scores a 2nd and 3rd

Opt in and build your own Bet Builder (3/1+) of 3+ legs on any Premier League game on Saturday and get 100% of your stake back in Free Bets up to £10 if you lose. (Credited within 24 hours)

Opt in and place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any Premier League match on Saturday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Sunday’s Premier League matches.