Only two Liverpool players make shock Merseyside Derby combined XI

Tomorrow's Merseyside Derby marks exactly 10 years to do the day Everton last beat Liverpool and they have arguably never been in a stronger position to do so again than now. Carlo Ancelotti's side welcome their neighbourhood rivals to Goodison Park top of the Premier League, with four wins from four and three points clear of Liverpool.

Inspired some remarkable summer transfers, the Toffees have been a revelation so far this season and some have even speculated whether Carlo Ancelotti's side can go all the way. The less said about the defending champions the better. Liverpool seemed set for an easy defence as their rivals struggled from the ouset but then they were humilated 7-2 by Aston Villa in their final game before the break.

The manner of defeat has unsurprisingly impacted Liverpool's player ratings for the season but Everton rightly dominate our Merseyside Derby combined XI ahead of Saturday's meeting. Rarely, if ever before, has that been the case. In fact, only two Liverpool players make the team!

Alisson would have been the goalkeeper but misses out due to injury, leaving Jordan Pickford to pick up the pieces by default with a WhoScored rating of just 6.22. The England international remains the week point of Everton's team and now has competition from new arrival Robin Olsen. 

Neither side are particularly solid at the back but Eveton have conceded six fewer goals than Liverpool in the Premier League this season, with only West Brom (13) letting in more than Jurgen Klopp's side (11). Adrian, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson have each committed an error leading to an opposition goal in the Premier League already this season.  

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson have been two of the best full-backs in the world in the last 18 months but Lucas Digne has also been a pillar of consistency for the Toffees in that time and started the new season in superb fashion. The France international has one assist to his name, while only Aaron Cresswell (11) has completed more crosses than the Everton left-back (10).

Everton's midfield was a huge problem last season but they adressed that with the double signing of Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure from Napoli and Watford, respectively. Allan has hit the ground running at the base of Everton's midfield, ranking fourth in the division for most tackles pg (4). While Allan has provided steel, Doucoure is the box-to-box midfielder Everton lacked.

Joining the Everton duo in midfield is Liverpool's first representative in the XI: Fabinho. Only one player has won possession in the midfield third more times than Fabinho in the Premier League this season (20) and only two of his four appearances have been in midfield. Summer signing Thiago misses out due to the fact he has only played in 45 minutes of Liverpool's league campaign thus far.

The front three is where the side gets interesting. Liverpool no doubt have one of the best in Europe but Everton's have arguably been more effective so far this season. Mo Salah has scored five times in four matches but just misses out to Everton star James Rodriguez. The Colombia international has played a direct hand in five goals himself and is the third best rated player in the division (8.41). Signing Rodriguez from Real Madrid is arguably one of the biggest coups in Premier League history and now Everton have the biggest name in the division.

Sadio Mane just beats Richarlison to a spot on the oppposite flank after picking up the WhoScored Man of the Match award twice in three appearances. Mane has scored three goals in that time, while Richarlison has played a direct hand in the same number of goals but from one more appearances.

Arguably the biggest surprise package this season is Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The England international is the joint top-scorer in Europe's top five leagues this season with six goals in four games. In that time, Calvert-Lewin netted the first hat-trick of his career and it leaves Liverpool's Roberto Firmino - without a league goal this season - looking in from the outside.