2. Everton’s injury woes
Everton have been hit hard by injuries- Bryan Oviedo suffered a horrible double-leg break against Stevenage while Seamus Coleman and Ross Barkley are out injured. Steven Pienaar and Gerard Deulofeu are also indisposed, but could make it to the squad provided they make it through a late fitness test. With so many key players injured, Everton manager Roberto Martinez will have a tough time with his squad, especially given how influential the likes of Coleman, Barkley and Pienaar have been so far this season.
That is not to say that Liverpool don’t have their own injury concerns, but barring Lucas, they do have adequate replacements in all the other positions, especially with Joe Allen likely to be fit enough to make it to the bench.