Liverpool’s SEVEN stars missing from Arne Slot’s squad

Liverpool will be without SEVEN first-team players when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton this weekend.

The game is likely to be the final Merseyside derby played at Goodison Park before Everton move to their new stadium on the city’s waterfront, barring the two sides being drawn together in the FA Cup later this season.

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Arne Slot’s Reds are seven points clear at the top of the league and are unbeaten away from home this season. Things could hardly be going better for Slot, who has capitalised on poor runs of form from Arsenal and Man City to cement Liverpool as favourites for the title.

Both sides have complained that injury issues have affected their performances in recent weeks, but Liverpool have been managing problems of their own that could affect them as well.

Wednesday’s 3-3 draw against Newcastle brought to light some potential issues facing Slot ahead of what will be a gruelling December period, with seven games coming in the next 22 days.

Ryan Gravenberch looked tired in a first-half where Liverpool struggled with Newcastle’s intensity, and will likely start again on Saturday as Slot will have a reduced squad to pick his starting lineup from.

Liverpool missing seven for Merseyside derby

Alexis Mac Allister will sit out the Everton game due to a suspension after picking up a yellow card against Newcastle. It was the Argentinian’s fifth yellow card in the Premier League this season.

He will also miss Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with Girona as he is also suspended due to receiving three bookings in Europe this season.

Slot will also be without up to six players due to injury.

Caoimhin Kelleher will remain in goal following his mistake against Newcastle, with Slot saying that Alisson is “not ready yet but soon,” in his pre-match press conference.

He also provided positive updates on both Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota, who will be available for selection “soon”. The Italian made his Liverpool comeback in midweek, scoring for the U21 side against FC Nordsjaelland.

Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas will be out for longer.

“It is only three injuries left with Diogo, Federico and Alisson close to being back, only Kostas [Tsimikas], Ibou [Konate] and Conor [Bradley] remain out longer,” Slot confirmed.

Bradley's absence means Trent Alexander-Arnold should come back into the side after starting the Newcastle game on the bench following a hamstring issue of his own, while Slot has confirmed that Gravenberch will start in midfield.

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