Liverpool vs Everton LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo goals

Jurgen Klopp has launched into an impassioned defence of his backroom staff, calling them the best in the business, and telling Liverpool’s critics to have the “balls” to go for him, not them.

The German reiterated his commitment to Liverpool as he vowed to carry on and insisted he is feeling very different to how he did when he left Mainz and Borussia Dortmund after seven years apiece.

Now Liverpool are yet to win a league game in 2023 and Klopp’s assistant Pep Lijnders and head of fitness Andreas Kornmayer are among those who have been blamed for their unexpectedly bad season.

But Klopp is adamant he takes responsibility, arguing the support staff all have their jobs on merit and have received too little praise and too much blame as he said that, if any of them give him bad advice, it is his fault for taking it.

Andy Robertson and Fabinho will reach appearance milestones for Liverpool if they feature in Monday night’s Merseyside derby with Everton.

Robertson, who arrived from Hull City in the summer of 2017, is one outing away from bringing up 250 for the Reds in all competitions, while Fabinho’s tally currently stands at 199.

Sean Dyche will be experiencing the Merseyside derby for the first time as a manager and knows the importance of this match for the city of Liverpool.

“The city comes together for a massive game.” he said as part of his pre-match media duties.

“It’s a bigger version of all derbies, but I’m looking forward to it because of the size of it. I grew up during the ‘70s and ‘80s knowing about the game and knowing about historical games between the two teams.

“But my key marker is performance levels, and parking the noise around the game. That’s our job. We must focus on the performance and not letting anything affect our build-up and planning.”

Anfield is the venue for tonight’s clash. Liverpool and Everton go head-to-head in the Merseyside derby which promises to bring thrills, shocks and surprises to those watching in the stands and via television.

Will Jurgen Klopp triumph over Everton once again or can Sean Dyche bring the Toffees some glory?

Everton winger Alex Iwobi is happier with his football than he has been for a long time – even if new manager Sean Dyche’s methods have left him too tired to get off the sofa.

The 26-year-old, who said talks over a new contract are looking “positive”, has been one the club’s best performers over the last 18 months.

But as he begins life under a fifth different permanent boss at Goodison Park since arriving in 2019, the Nigeria international knows he cannot rest on his laurels after he and the squad were given an early indication of the rewards Dyche’s approach to the physical side of the game can bring following the victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal last weekend.

Jurgen Klopp comes up against Sean Dyche in the Merseyside derby this evening and explained how tough it is to take on teams managed by the Englishman.

Writing in his programme notes for the game Klopp said:

“Sean’s work speaks for itself. He has a clear idea of how he wants his teams to play and this means they are only ever a tough opponent.

“I know there will have been some who were surprised by Everton’s performance against Arsenal last week and especially the result they got, but I was not. In a strange way, it felt almost expected.

“So, credit to Sean and his players for this victory. For us, we have a warning – not that we needed it – of what should be expected tonight.”

New Everton boss, Sean Dyche, wants his team to build on their match winning performance against Arsenal last week when they take on Liverpool in the Merseyside derby tonight.

“We’re really looking for a performance.” He said in the build-up to this evening’s game, “Last weekend, it was fantastic to get a win, but I was really looking for a reaction and a performance, and I think we’re still laying that down.

“We need to give another good performance on the back of one last week.

“There’s plenty of belief in what we do but it’s important to take action. When the whistle blows you’ve got to take action, and you’ve got to perform.”

Everton’s only victory in their last 22 league games away to Liverpool was by 2-0 in February 2021. They’ve drawn nine and lost 12 of those matches at Anfield.

September’s meeting at Goodison Park produced the 12th goalless drawn between the sides in the Premier League - more than any other fixture in the competition’s history.

Can Everton build off the back of their impressive victory over Arsenal by shocking Liverpool at Anfield tonight?

Rafa Benitez has admitted that he has split loyalties ahead of the Merseyside derby, refusing to favour either Liverpool or Everton.

The Spaniard became only the second manager to take charge of both clubs when appointed Everton boss in June 2021.

While his six-year stint with Liverpool brought significantly more success than a six-and-a-half month spell at Goodison Park, Benitez still feels warmly about both sets of supporters.

Though conceding that Everton fans had found it hard to move on from his Liverpool past, the 62-year-old insists he does not favour either side.