Liverpool could be without six of their first team players as the Reds gear up for a feisty Merseyside Derby against their bitterest of rivals – Everton.

Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Virgil Van Dijk, Arthur, Ibrahima Konate and Roberto Firmino are all expected to miss out on the derby clash. Van Dijk and Firmino are further along in their rehabilitation than the other four, but the game against Everton will likely come too soon for both of them.

Diaz is expected back sometime during March with a long term knee injury, while Konate and Jota could return to the squad towards the end of February.

Aside from this, Liverpool have no new injury concerns – it does pose something of a problem in the centre back position, however. In their last game, the partnership of Joel Matip and Joe Gomez was found to be thoroughly inadequate, as their defence was breached time and time again en route to a 3-0 defeat.

Of course, Everton aren’t without their fair share of injuries. The Toffees will be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, James Garner, Nathan Patterson, Michael Keane and Andros Townsend for the game on Monday evening.

Keane and Calvert-Lewin are close to returning to the squad – however, they’re likely to miss out on the derby. Garner and Townsend should be ready to play again at the beginning of March, while Patterson could return from his long-standing knee injury in a couple of weeks’ time.

Neither team are at full strength for the derby – nevertheless, it will be a hot-blooded encounter, as usual. Can Liverpool restart their charge for European football, or will Everton pile the pressure on Jurgen Klopp?

New Blog: For full coverage of the WSL check out our brand new WSL blog – WSL News and as part of the site we also have the first dedicated WSL News aggregation page which is part of National World’s commitment to the promotion of Women’s Sport.