Liverpool

BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

James asked: Do you think Everton can spring a surprise and beat Liverpool? Wouldn't it be magical if Everton could win the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park?

Phil answered: Of course they can. Whether they will is another matter because Liverpool have been outstanding in the Premier League this season and are deservedly leaders.

Everton beat Liverpool at Goodison late last season and it will be a special occasion as the last derby at the great old stadium.

And Everton are now in much better shape since David Moyes' return as manager. It will be a tough assignment, but Everton have gained belief from those three successive league wins and must hope confidence is not knocked after going out of the FA Cup to Bournemouth.

• Not an Everton fan? Find your team's page here

Read more of Phil's Q&A and the rest of Tuesday's football news on our daily live page

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Everton - the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Trent Alexander-Arnold did a partial training session on Monday and will be assessed on his availability after training on Tuesday.

• Fellow defender Joe Gomez is unavailable, with Slot confirming he has an injury to the same leg he was previously sidelined with.

• On whether the FA Cup defeat at Plymouth Argyle should inspire a strong Merseyside derby performance: "It should have an impact because if you work at a club like this you should compete for every trophy. To lose against Plymouth is unacceptable. The performance was far from Liverpool's standard."

• He said it being the last derby at Goodison will be "an extra reason why the atmosphere will be even better than the occasions before", so his players "have to be strong to resist it [the home noise] and stay focused".

• On how his players will deal with that: "You have to be as calm as you can. It's not the first time for these players to be playing in an atmosphere like this, but you have to stand up to these emotions. I presume our players are ready for another battle like they have been all season."

• He said he wants to see "cool heads but not cool legs" to match Everton's intensity.

• On their opponents' form since David Moyes took over: "I am aware of the fact that he has taken charge of four games and won three. That is a great accomplishment and they are in a better place than they were."

• In response to whether the next block of fixtures will define their season: "No because this period of five games in 15 days is what we have done all season. All stages of the season are crucial. You cannot slow down or a have a few games when you're not on top of the game because teams will catch you. That is why it is the most exciting league. It is the hardest league to win."

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We asked for your views on what's the one thing going on at Liverpool that is being overlooked.

Here are some of your comments:

Mohammed: The main thing that goes unnoticed is Cody Gakpo's performances. There are some people that are saying he's playing well - but he's playing way better than that. Why isn't that emphasised enough? Every game he plays, I just know he's going to pull a big performance to help us win.

Brian: Fixture congestion. It's mentioned, but never actually addressed. Isn't it more than a little ridiculous to expect clubs to turn a first XI, plus subs, out every three days for a sustained period? We need to find another way around having our top teams active in four major tournaments every year.

Yusuf: One thing that has been going under the radar is the improvement in Conor Bradley. He has been giving some crucial assists in games as a starter for Liverpool. At only 21 years old, I definitely think he has potential to become a huge part of their defence.

David: Why are we persevering with Federico Chiesa, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez? They put in the effort but are too wasteful. Diogo Jota is a great player when fit and not recovering from injuries, but we desperately need to find players who can score more often. As for the players who have not extended their contracts, we have to assume by now that they are moving on - so we need to find replacements for them. We are letting players leave for nothing when we could have got some return on them. It doesn't make any sense because the amount of changes will hamper us next season.

Eug D: With so much contract talk about, why is no-one talking about Caoimhin Kelleher? We should be trying to keep him, so get his contract sorted so he doesn't want to leave.

Robel: The team's lack of quality depth in certain areas has been covered by the relatively successful results so far. One injury to Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch or Diogo Jota, means the next cover is significantly a step down. Our season can be derailed with just two major injuries.

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Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton says the postponement of the Merseyside derby in December "has really helped Everton".

The Toffees were struggling for form under Sean Dyche but now go into the final Goodison Park derby on a run of three straight league wins under David Moyes.

"David has come in and revitalised them," Houghton told Goodison's Greatest Derbies, a special edition of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "All of a sudden, there's a different way of thinking about their game.

"If they had played it when they should have, with the way Everton were playing, there would have only been one conclusion - a Liverpool victory.

"Now Evertonians are really looking forward to the game. They're going into it with a lot of optimism, belief and confidence. That's down to the past few results they have got.

"David has come in and just given them a bit more belief. It's the same group of players but they just have a different voice. A few tweaks here and there and they look free-flowing, they're scoring goals and everything is looking good.

"The Everton fans are saying 'bring on Liverpool' and there aren't many saying that about playing Liverpool at the moment.

"I can't wait for it. I think it will be an absolute cracker. I'm sure it will be a fabulous occasion."

Listen to Goodison's Greatest Derbies on BBC Sounds

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Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton has recalled his winning goal in the 1988 FA Cup fifth round against Everton as the Merseyside rivals prepare for the final Goodison Park derby on Wednesday.

"Goodison is an iconic old stadium. I will be sad when it goes," Houghton told Goodison's Greatest Derbies, a special edition of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Too many of the old stadiums we're not seeing any more and we're losing a little bit of the history and the atmosphere.

"It is such a tight, compact ground you can virtually feel the fans on top of you when you run down the wings. If you were an away player going to Goodison, the home crowd would tell you if you were doing good, bad or indifferent.

"It was a unique place to go. It is a great place to win or to go there on your debut like I did.

"It wasn't a particularly good game. I don't think either side did themselves justice. I was fortunate enough to score the only goal with what I would call a classic header.

"It was a tremendous feeling and to come off after the game with the victory and to have the bragging rights for the next couple of weeks was brilliant."

Listen to Goodison's Greatest Derbies on BBC Sounds

As we head into the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, we want your memories, stories and pictures from the standout moments down the years. Get in touch here

Any quadruple talk was ended by a much-changed Liverpool being knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship strugglers Plymouth at the weekend - but Arne Slot's side are still in the hunt for silverware on three fronts.

Is there anything flying under the radar at Anfield at the moment?

You know the Reds best, so we want you to tell us the one thing - good or bad - that no-one is talking about but really should be.

Let us know here

Is there something you want to ask about a Premier League club?

Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha is ready to answer your burning questions and give his thoughts on some of the biggest talking points for a special Q&A.

Submit your questions here and come back on Thursday for his answers

Mike Richards
Fan writer

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With our FA Cup run over before it got started, we now know that every time a team visits Goodison Park for the remainder of the season, it will be their last.

I am not normally one for sentimentality, but as we enter the final few months of the season, the air of finality is abundantly apparent.

With that in mind, Wednesday's final Merseyside derby holds that added bit of weight.

Our local rivals are eager to increase the gap at the top of the table, us keen to not only stop them, but ensure an Everton victory is written within the last few pages of Goodison's history.

David Moyes has brought a sense of calm and enabled the team to pull away from the bottom three, hopefully meaning we can approach the game as something of a 'free hit'.

As a fan, I want a blood and thunder approach - a throwback to a time when derbies meant more and we were closer to Liverpool than we currently are.

Last season's 2-0 win is all the players need draw on before the game. The belief should be there.

I would imagine the manager approaches the game fairly pragmatically, sprinkled with some controlled emotional spice.

Goodison Park has so often been ed for epic Everton performances under the floodlights.

From Bayern Munich to Fiorentina, and this very fixture last season, there can be no place quite like it when the light switch is flicked.

For one final time, can we invoke the legends of Goodison's illustrious past and make it a night that lives long in the memory?

Over to you, lads.

As we head into the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, we want your memories, stories and pictures from the standout moments down the years. Get in touch here

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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Liverpool's performance against Plymouth was nothing short of abysmal. The senior players who started should have had more than enough to beat the worst team in the Championship, but they were shockingly bad.

But, ultimately, it doesn't really matter. Talk of a quadruple is silly. It has never happened and probably never will.

Liverpool's focus should entirely be on the Premier League, the Champions League and the Carabao Cup final.

If we had beaten Plymouth and progressed, no doubt we would have eventually got harder draws and Arne Slot would have been tempted into picking his best players in FA Cup matches days before more important ones.

• Not a Liverpool fan? Find your team's page here

The fixture list is jam-packed. Ludicrously, Liverpool play five Premier League matches before March.

And this is when the title will be won or lost.

Currently, his first XI is entirely fit - barring Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is touch and go for the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.

This time last year, Jurgen Klopp was battling a mountain of injuries that eventually became unsustainable and led to the season collapsing.

But under Slot, Liverpool are more available and have actually run less than any other side in the division.

And while the squad players let themselves down at Plymouth, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Mo Salah stayed on Merseyside and got a much-needed rest.

If Liverpool beat Everton, it will have been the right decision.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

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The transfers - or lack of - are done. So now we have all our information at hand for picking our winners and losers this season.

I really hung my hat out on Arsenal winning the Premier League at the beginning of the season, with Liverpool second.

But now, the Reds look like they will go on to win it because of their squad depth and stability.

I know Arsenal are close and pushing but I don't see Liverpool losing three games between now and the end of the season.

They have great cover in the forward areas, so there is competition for places, and then there is the form of Mohamed Salah. He has been unbelievable this season.

They are also solid at the back, despite having had injuries. Alisson missed a chunk of games and that did not really make a difference to them. Ibrahima Konate was also injured and Joe Gomez stepped in fine, and there have also been issues with Trent Alexander-Arnold.

But despite all of that, this is a telling time for Liverpool because it was around this time last season that they won the Carabao Cup and were ahead in the Premier League - and then really fell away.

Arsenal will be looking at the gap and thinking six points is not that much, but they are still inconsistent. Liverpool probably feel a lot more comfortable being chased down by Arsenal than Manchester City, who we know can go on a crazy run of games to close a gap.

I still think City will do that, but the title is too far gone for them.

If Liverpool can get through this patch of games then they will go on to win the league because, overall, they look much better than they did last season.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

A special episode of the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast has been released.

'Goodison's Greatest Derbies' is now available on BBC Sounds.

Kelly Cates is ed by Pat Nevin, Ray Houghton and Phil McNulty as they look back at some of the greatest and most poignant Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park over the years ahead of the final one taking place at the ground on Wednesday.

Pat and Ray relive their goals and memories from the derbies and share an insight into that period of their careers as footballers.

Also hear from Everton manager David Moyes as he prepares for the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds

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Jarrad Branthwaite says Everton must go into Wednesday's final Goodison Park derby against Liverpool believing they can win the game.

Arne Slot's side have lost just once in the Premier League this season and will visit Goodison Park for the final time knowing victory would take them nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.

"It is the Merseyside derby, it is another game that we are looking to win, that's it," Toffees' defender Branthwaite said.

"If you build it up too much then you can fall under the pressure so I think for us as players we are going into it with the belief that we can get a result like last season.

"If you go into it bigging it up - all the pressure is on and everyone is watching - then you probably won't play your best.

"It will be different for the fans as they create the atmosphere for us to go out there and do a job. We need to go out and perform."

Brathwaite scored the opening goal when Everton beat their city rivals 2-0 in March to effectively end their title hopes in Jurgen Klopp's final season in charge.

The Toffees will hope for a similarly energised performance after a run of three league wins in a row following David Moyes' reappointment in January.

"Obviously, wins are going to lift the atmosphere around the club and since the manager came in there has been a change," added Branthwaite.

"That has given us a bit of momentum, the fans are right behind us again and it makes it a difficult place when teams come here.

"I can feel a bit of change and hopefully that can continue.

"We've played against some top teams in the last five games and gone head-to-head with them and picked up points so we know we can do it.

"If we are not they will punish us as they are a good team. We have to be on the front foot from the first whistle and be ready to take it on."

We asked for your views on Eveton's match against Bournemouth in the FA Cup.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Greg: We were very poor in the first half though improved after the break. Tarkowski had a game to forget and cost us the two goals. Alcaraz looks like he may have something. I like the way he's positive in the way he plays. He should start on Wednesday instead of Doucoure who is fast going downhill.

Graham: Two bad mistakes from a usually reliable defender. We did everything but score in the second half. If they play like that for the rest of the Premier League games we will be OK.

Barry: Dreadful first half performance; much better second-half. Second goal gave us a mountain to climb against a well organised Bournemouth, who have become a real bogey team for us. Let's hope the second-half performance is taken into the derby on Wednesday, as Liverpool will make hay if we perform like we did in the first half. Will happily take the cup exit for a final Goodison derby win!

Bournemouth fans

Charl: Bournemouth deserve a lot of credit for this result. A competent defensive display, an assured midfield performance and two goals against an in-form team. Very well done Andoni and the squad.

Paul: A classic game of two halves. Totally dominant in the first half but couldn't control midfield the same way in the second. Solid defensive effort throughout though, and, unlike the Liverpool game, the woodwork helped us out this time. Onto the next round!

Sean: That was some penalty from Semenyo! First half Everton let us play our game and we took our chances. Everton had a second half purple patch but were wasteful. A deserved win and hoping for a favourable tie in the next round.

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We asked for your views on Liverpool's FA Cup defeat against Plymouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Ian: Bitterly disappointing. They deserved to lose. That was a really poor side that Slot decided to put out. I don't understand why he did that. Klopp used to do the same. Show's a lack of respect for the opposition and to the competition. The FA Cup has been and will always be important to the fans. Winning is important for continuity. To say that I'm disappointed is an understatement.

Shaun: Slot totally disrespected Plymouth with that squad. It was never good enough to beat a side that fought for everything. Too many so called first teamers were off it, notably Elliott who was woeful and Quansah is way too laid back with not enough urgency.

Alex: Plymouth deserved that win! I thought our senior players were disappointingly poor and didn't lead the youngsters by example. What a shame!

Robert: Well played Plymouth. But there are more important matches for Liverpool in the next few months so while I'm disappointed there are less games to play. If this was our starting 11 I'd be more worried but we gave two other young players debuts.

Phil: I think Slot has made his first real mistake. You can't change 10 players and put so many kids together. I also feel it was disrespectful of the FA cup as well. Angry and annoyed so like everyone else I assume it'll only be excused if we go on to win the league.

CJ: Congrats to Plymouth for an excellent performance and result. It shows why quite a few of that team are not first team players. I thought the penalty was harsh, but you can't fault Plymouth for defending resolutely and wanting it more. When half the first team are rested, you know where Arne is looking ahead to. Onward and upwards.

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Jarrad Branthwaite spoke to BBC Radio Merseyside after Everton's defeat against Bournemouth: "In the second half we were very good and created a lot of chances. We shot ourselves in the foot [in the first half] and we invited them on too much. We know they are a good pressing team and we probably played into their hands a bit too much."

On individual errors: "Over the course of a season you are going to have a few games like that. I've already had mine this season. It's just about how you react to that."

He was impressed by Carlos Alcaraz's debut: "He looked bright with this free-kick and a couple of link-up plays on the edge of the box. Hopefully he can add to our team and create that dynamism in the middle."