Before I get into the preview of the match, it’s worth taking a moment to remember a man who had as much influence as anyone in building this club to what it is today.
Ronnie Moran (28 February 1934 – 22 March 2017)
There are plenty of former reds despised by the other half of the city. And plenty of former blues despised by the red half. Ronnie Moran transcended the tribal feelings between the two clubs and deserved the respect he received from reds and blues alike.
In the words of Kenny Dalglish
“The contribution and help he gave me was enormous and I’ll be eternally grateful for that – both as a player and a manager. I don’t think anybody that worked with him during his spell at Liverpool will have anything but total admiration and respect and gratitude for what he did for them.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that in the most successful spell in the club’s history, Ronnie Moran was of great importance to it. He was there at the outset with Bill Shankly, and the football club as it stands today is because of what Bill Shankly set in place and Ronnie was a big part of that.
“His contribution to the football club should never, ever be underestimated. Although it might be understated, and he might be understated, he made a massive contribution.” Jordan Henderson
The reason being captain of Liverpool Football Club is such a huge honour is because legendary figures like Ronnie Moran held it before I did.
I wasn't lucky enough to work with Ronnie but I had the great fortune of being in his company on the occasions when he came to Melwood to walk around the training pitch and although we all regarded him as a true great, he was as humble and down to earth as anyone you could ever come across.
I know I speak for all of the current players when I say that we are all deeply saddened by Ronnie's passing and the greatest tribute we can pay to him is to give everything we've got for Liverpool Football Club just as he did each and every single day during the 49 years he spent here. YNWA And from across the park, Peter Reid
“I’m devastated. Ronnie was a good football man who had a wicked sense of humour. One of my best memories of him were the derbies, which as we all know, are fiery affairs. One year, they beat us at Anfield and as I was walking off the pitch, Ronnie came over to me and said: ‘Hey lad, you played well.’ Let’s just say I gave him an Anglo-Saxon response. The following year we beat them at Anfield and I couldn’t see Ronnie in the tunnel so I marched straight into the boot room, found him, and said: ‘Unlucky, you played well.’ I got the same Anglo-Saxon response!” 
Liverpool vs. Everton - Anfield - April 1st 2017 - 12:30The big team news is obviously the horrific injury sustained by Seamus Coleman against Wales. He’s been a fantastic player for Everton, and from my perspective is one of the good guys in the game. I’m sure I speak for all reds when I say I hope he makes a full recovery from an injury which could have wider consequences than just his ability to play to the game.
Joining Coleman on the Everton injured list are two other key players for them, Morgan Schneiderlin and James McCarthy. Both of them are unlikely to feature which is going to provide Koeman with some challenges in their midfield.
From our side, the key injuries are to Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson. Henderson is more likely to return for this, but a place on the bench is probably the best to hope for. With Sturridge not often in our starting line-up even if fit, and the resurgent form of Emre Can, it’s unlikely that either player will be missed as significantly as the three from Everton.
Line-upsLiverpool - 4-3-3
Everton – 4-2-3-1
Key FactorsEverton are one of the form teams in the division. Since we beat them at Goodison in December, in the league they have played 12, won 8, drawn 3 and lost only once, 3-2 away to Spurs.
Their key man is obviously the league’s top scorer, Lukaku. This guy is the real-deal and the best player I’ve seen in an Everton shirt since Nick Barmby. They will try to get runners off him, with Mirallas a likely threat in-behind, and Barkley likely to roam from a wide right position. The biggest threat I see though is Lukaku himself getting space in and around the box. He’s scored 12 goals in his 12 league games since our win against them.
Before the injury to Coleman, I was going to highlight him as the other player to watch from them. They are going to miss his pace and attacking ability with Holgate the likely player to come in for him.
Controlling the space in front of our back four will be crucial in restricting them to trying to find Lukaku with balls from deep. Like other teams, they will probably try to absorb our pressure and exploit the space in between our centre backs and full backs during quick breaks.
There’s a chance Koeman may opt for a back 5 to try to restrict the space for our front six to operate in, however I think a back four with a narrow midfield five (as a 2-3 o a 3-2) will be his choice.
For Liverpool, it’ll be very much like we are now used to under Klopp. High possession, lots of quick interchanges and forcing their midfield into chasing shadows as our midfield three continually look to break their lines with cute passes, fast turns and surges into space. The risk is we over play the central areas and don’t make effective use of the wide areas to stretch them.
Mane against Baines has the potential to have a big influence on the result, especially if Barry is required to provide the cover. With Lallana also operating on that side of the pitch, Everton will have their work cut out.
They’ll try to match our intensity early on, and keeping our composure, and eleven men on the pitch, will be crucial in the early exchanges.
