Mac Allister x Doucoure Card double

Alexis Mac Allister is already a firm fixture in the Liverpool team since his arrival from Brighton in the summer.

A midfielder who can play in a variety of roles, Mac Allister has found himself as an important player to Liverpool in terms of ball retention, possession play, creativity and a tough tackler.

One thing worth highlighting, is that Mac Allister certainly brings a lot of aggression.

He’s committing an incredible 2.35 fouls P/90, and has found himself booked 3 times and seen red once. Temperament seems to be an issue.

This game should see a lot happening in the middle of the park against an Everton team boasting some very powerful players such as Onana, and Garner, the pair drawing 2.18 and 1.74 fouls P/90 respectively.

This will be his very first taste of the Merseyside derby, so all the right ingredients for a hot headed player.

Abdoulaye Doucoure has gone through a pretty impressive transition into a new role for this season, now playing in a more advanced role. We saw shades of this after Dyche’s arrival last season, an he’ll be a key man in that area today.

This switch has seen him smash 3 goals already so far, but one thing that’s remained in his game however, are the fouls. He is number 1 for fouls committed (1.73 P/90) in Everton’s ranks and plays nearly every minute for the Toffee’s.

Due to Everton’s formation set up, they can leave quite a bit of work for the front 2 to do because they have so many behind the ball.

Doucoure will operate in a space where he could end up tussling with the likes of Mac Allister (draws 1.47 fouls P/90), Gravenberch (draws 2.50 P/90), Szobozlai (draws 1.63 P/90) and Endo (draws 2.50 P/90).

Dourcoure has 1 yellow card to his name so far, and with Liverpool expected to keep a majority of the ball, he’ll need to work tirelessly to disrupt their flow, which should mean fouls and then cards.