Everton team confirmed for Merseyside derby as David Moyes makes Carlos Alcaraz call

Everton has confirmed its starting XI for the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson, with David Moyes making a major decision on the return of Carlos Alcaraz

Everton has confirmed its starting XI for the Merseyside derby, with David Moyes making a key call on Carlos Alcaraz.

The Argentinian midfielder has missed the last six matches but returned to the bench for the first derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium Moyes told reporters on Friday: “Charly Alcaraz is back and back training now. I think we’re as much close to [fully fit] as we can be.”

Everton is unchanged from the 2-2 draw with Brentford. Jordan Pickford starts in goal with Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko completing the back line. James Garner and Idrissa Gueye start in midfield behind Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil with Beto up front. Meanwhile, the Reds made four changes to its starting XI.

Moyes remains without Jack Grealish, who underwent surgery on a foot stress fracture with the loanee unlikely to feature for the Toffees again this season. The Toffees are pushing for European qualification and began the weekend in eighth place in the Premier League, level on points with seventh-placed Brentford but behind on goal difference. Everton will be looking to inflict an 18th defeat of the campaign on Arne Slot’s side

“I think that’s the biggest thing for me is that, with six games to go, we’ve got something to play for here,” said Moyes in his pre-match press conference. “Over the recent years it’s been the wrong thing we’ve been playing for. “But this year we’re getting a bit closer to the stuff you would hope we would be involved in. I’m hoping we can keep it going and we keep that dream alive. Let’s see what happens.”

The Champions League-chasing Reds are aiming for back-to-back league victories after a 2-0 win over Fulham at Anfield boosted their top-five hopes. However, Liverpool suffered a setback in Europe on Tuesday, exiting the UEFA competition after a 2-0 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain sealed a 4-0 aggregate loss.

Slot will be without Hugo Ekitike after the French striker ruptured his Achilles that will rule him out of the rest of this season and prevent him from playing for France at the World Cup.

Alexander Isak started in midweek – his third outing since returning from a near four-month absence with an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture – and played the first 45 minutes. Slot has indicated the striker is not yet ready to complete a full match, though he is “getting closer and closer” to full fitness.

“Now we need him [Isak] but there are different options to play as a No.9 as well,” the Liverpool head coach said at his pre-match press conference. “Federico Chiesa is also one of them so there are different options, but it’s definitely good to have Alex back now Hugo is injured.”

Gomez has also been ruled out of the Reds’ first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium after being forced off with injury. The defender came on at half-time in Tuesday night’s clash but was substituted just 22 minutes later.

There is currently a four-point gap between sixth-placed Chelsea and fifth-placed Liverpool, though the Reds have the chance to extend that advantage when they face Everton. Following the derby, Liverpool round off their campaign with fixtures against Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford, with several of those sides firmly in the race for European qualification.