Everton facing crisis ahead of Merseyside derby with SEVEN players set to miss Liverpool clash
Everton are facing a major crisis ahead of the Merseyside derby with SEVEN players set to miss their game against Liverpool.
Everton resume their Premier League campaign against cross-town rivals Liverpool, having won back-to-back league games.
They beat Brighton 1-0 before smashing Leicester City 4-0.
Advert
But Everton were dumped out of the FA Cup in their last outing, suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.
Ahead of returning to action against the league leaders, David Moyes is set to be without SEVEN players.
Orel Mangala, who is on loan from Lyon, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury and is set to be out for an extended period.
Tim Iroegbunam has been out of action since being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot. Moyes shared an update on his recovery, saying: "We're short with our squad at the moment. We've got Tim on the way back. He's beginning to get himself back in a position where he's ready to play."
Dwight McNeil and Armando Broja are about six weeks away from returning to action while Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Youssef Chermiti are also sidelined.
Nathan Patterson, who was absent from the FA Cup defeat, is out, too.
Midfielder Carlos Alcaraz, however, could be in line to make his league debut after making his first appearance for Everton following his January arrival from Flamengo.
Asked about his chances of starting, Moyes replied: "He's done enough by his performance to start the game. Whether I do, is another thing. I think sometimes when you bring someone in, you don't know how long it'll take for someone to settle."
He added: "I have to say, he settled very well in the game. He's got Premier League experience, so he's not completely new to this. The decision will be made tomorrow on whether we start him or not."
Everton vs. Liverpool is the final Merseyside derby to be played at the iconic Goodison Park ahead of the Toffees' stadium move to Bramley-Dock Moore.
The fixture is a rearranged game following December's postponement due to Storm Darragh.
Nasir Jabbar