MatchEverton v Liverpool: Merseyside derby team news

Gomez has been ruled out of the Reds' first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium after coming off in the Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield.

The defender had been introduced at half-time of Tuesday night's fixture but was withdrawn 22 minutes later.

Ekitike, meanwhile, ruptured his Achilles tendon in the first half with a slip on the surface and will be unavailable for a 'long time', according to Arne Slot.

The pair join Stefan Bajcetic, Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Jayden Danns, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni on the sidelines.

Alexander Isak was a starter in midweek – his third appearance since a near-four-month lay-off with an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture – and played the opening 45 minutes.

Slot reported that the striker is currently unable to last an entire match but is 'getting closer and closer'.

"Now we need him [Isak] but there are different options to play as a No.9 as well," the Liverpool head coach said at his pre-match press conference. "Federico Chiesa is also one of them so there are different options, but it's definitely good to have Alex back now Hugo is injured."

Danns has not appeared since coming off early in the U21s' Premier League 2 fixture at Manchester City last month.

Slot said of the 20-year-old: "The good thing for him is that he's been out for such a long time and he's now getting back with the U21s, getting some playing time.

"But I think there's still a lot of steps to be made if you've not even played 90 minutes [for] the U21s, let alone then play a Premier League game. I really like him to be back but the reality is that he's not on the bench for us this weekend."

Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister could take their Premier League appearance totals for Liverpool to 100.

Everton should only have Jack Grealish, who underwent surgery on a foot stress fracture, absent for the 2pm BST kick-off.

Attacking midfielder Charly Alcaraz has missed their last six matches due to injury but could make a return.

Blues boss David Moyes told reporters on Friday: "Charly Alcaraz is back and back training now. I think we're as much close to [fully fit] as we can be."

The Toffees are pursuing qualification for European football next season and entered the weekend occupying eighth spot in the Premier League table, only trailing seventh-placed Brentford on goal difference.

"I think that's the biggest thing for me is that, with six games to go, we've got something to play for here," Moyes continued. "Over the recent years it's been the wrong thing we've been playing for.

"But this year we're getting a bit closer to the stuff you would hope we would be involved in. I'm hoping we can keep it going and we keep that dream alive. Let's see what happens."

Last match

Brentford 2-2 Everton (April 11): Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, McNeil, Ndiaye, Beto.

Liverpool 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain (April 14): Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Ekitike, Isak.