Merseyside derby: can Everton overcome hoodoo and will Coutinho shine?


Five things to look out for including how Liverpool will replace Lallana and Lukaku’s pursuit of the golden boot when the two old rivals meet at Anfield

Jürgen Klopp’s side triumphed without their influential No10 at Goodison Park in December but he remains pivotal to their prospects of breaking any defence and one of the few talents capable of elevating a derby with a touch of class. Since returning from an ankle ligament injury in January, Coutinho has recaptured his early-season form only sporadically and scored once in 13 outings for his club. However, his goal and performance for Brazil against Paraguay in midweek, when he helped his country to qualify for the World Cup in Russia before flying back to Merseyside on a private jet with Roberto Firmino, suggest his sharpness and confidence is returning.

Related: Sadio Mané’s injury-time winner earns Liverpool dramatic derby victory

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