New signing Carlos Alcaraz is set to be named on the bench again for Everton when they welcome Liverpool to Goodison Park for the last time on Wednesday.
Alcaraz enjoyed a promising cameo performance off the bench against Bournemouth on Saturday, injecting impetus and energy into the Everton team, while also striking the post from a free kick.
However, after only arriving on deadline day and playing once for the club, manager David Moyes may be reluctant to throw the Argentine in for his full debut in a Merseyside derby.
Therefore, that could see the midfield three remain unchanged from the strong XI that Moyes named at the weekend, with Idrissa Gueye, James Garner and Abdoulaye Doucoure expected to feature from the outset.
There could be a change on the right-hand side, though, because Jack Harrison's impressive display off the bench against Bournemouth could see him replace Jesper Lindstrom in the side, for what would be just a second start under Moyes for the Leeds United loanee.
Everton were hit with two more injury concerns at the weekend, as full-back pairing Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson both missed out due to injury, with Ashley Young deputising for the former at left-back.
Mykolenko and Patterson joined attacking trio Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti on the sidelines at the weekend, with Beto set for a third straight start just as his Everton career looked set to be coming to an end.
Dwight McNeil's set-piece deliveries were crucial in Everton's 2-0 win over Liverpool last season, but the winger will remain sidelined here with the knee problem that has kept him out for two months, and also required him to go under the knife at the end of January, with no return date set.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto
Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for the Merseyside derby.
Andrew Delaney
