Liverpool team vs Everton confirmed as Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak decisions made

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has confirmed his starting XI to take on Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with decisions being made on Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.(Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah comes back in to start for Liverpool in the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Hugo Ekitike dropping out of the side after he picked up a long-term Achilles injury.

With Alisson Becker still sidelined, Giorgi Mamardashvili is in goal, with Curtis Jones, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson across the back four. Joe Gomez is absent due to the injury that forced him off against PSG earlier this week.

In midfield, Liverpool has Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch. Salah is joined by Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, who starts for the second game in a row, with Arne Slot having the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Jeremie Frimpong and Rio Ngumoha to call upon from the bench.

"It's always a very special game," Slot said in his pre-match press conference. "[It] doesn't matter if it's the 60th game being played in the stadium.

"But if it is the last one being played at the stadium and the first one that always makes it probably even more special if that's even possible.

"Of course, they are in a very good place at the moment. It's always special, but maybe you can add one or two per cent to it, because it's now the first and last season it was the last [at Goodison Park].

David Moyes and Arne Slot.(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

"It will always be a very special game for them, but definitely also for us."

Slot was also asked about the difference in atmosphere he expects at the new venue for this fixture. A win for Everton would bring it within two points of Liverpool.

"I don't know, because last season was my first Merseyside derby in that stadium [Goodison Park]," Slot said. "If we would have played in the same stadium, I probably could know what to expect.

"But I don't think a stadium is loud, it's usually the fans that are loud, so how much of a difference it will be, I can tell you after the weekend.

"I think their fans will be loud, as our fans will be loud as well. I think it's not the stadium itself that makes the difference.

"Usually, it's always the players that make the difference and the fans can have an impact to help the players out, that's for sure."

Liverpool starting XI: Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak. Subs: Woodman, Pecsi, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Frimpong, Nyoni, Ngumoha.