Three strikers and you’re out, Blues

IF Liverpool go back to the tried-and-trusted front three of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, they will extend their unbeaten Merseyside derby record at Anfield to 20 years.

Much as I’ve been impressed with Jurgen Klopp’s heavy-metal style of football, Liverpool have never been quite as convincing when he tweaks the forward line – as he did at Watford last week.

I like Xherdan Shaqiri (left) and I can understand Klopp wanting to give a player of his quality some action. But for me, the Salah-Mane-Firmino axis is the combination likeliest to push Manchester City all the way for the title.

When they are at full throttle, even the best clubs in Europe struggle to live with them, and Everton will do well to keep them at bay. How many Everton players would get in this Liverpool side? Maybe Richarlison – but even then I’m not sure where you would fit him in. To date, it’s 17 games without an Everton win in the derby, home or away. My money’s on the meter ticking over to 18 this weekend.