By Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

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Liverpool have named both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak on the bench for today’s Merseyside derby clash with Everton in the Premier League.

Arne Slot handed a debut to £125million transfer Deadline Day signing Isak in the 3-2 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, though he did not play the entire 90 minutes.

Slot has been keen to build up the striker’s fitness after he missed the entirety of pre-season as well as the first three Premier League games of the new campaign with Newcastle – where he was not training with the first team – prior to sealing a switch to Merseyside.

Speaking after the win over Atletico, Slot confirmed Isak would not play 90 minutes against Everton, with Hugo Ekitike leading the line instead.

Dominik Szoboszlai presented another selection headache for the Reds head coach ahead of the Merseyside derby.

Szoboszlai has impressed at right-back this season, scoring a stunning free-kick in the 1-0 win over Arsenal last month, but looked at home in his natural midfield role in midweek.

He is further forward today alongside Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Ekitike, with Wirtz only a sub.

Curtis Jones is also on the bench after missing the last two games with a knock and Milos Kerkez is recalled following a substitute’s role in the Champions League and being taken off before half-time in last weekend’s last-gasp win at Burnley.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Ekitike

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Robertson, Frimpong, Endo, Wirtz, Jones, Isak, Ngumoha

Injured: None

Time and date: 12.30pm BST on Saturday September 20, 2025

Venue: Anfield, Liverpool

How to watch: TNT Sports