Jake O’Brien has come into favour under David Moyes having previously not really been around the starting lineup under Sean Dyche. He has been playing as a right back for the Toffees which has taken some adjustment seeing as he’s spent the majority of his career as a centre back. 

O’Brien is averaging 0.74 fouls committed per 90 across his 12 Premier League appearances this season but this average should be set to rise up against Cody Gakpo. Gakpo has won 19 fouls across his 26 Premier League appearances this season, 16 of these have been starts taking his average to 1.21 fouls won per 90. Everton only committed nine fouls in the initial meeting between these sides at Goodison Park but that is another metric we can expect to rise here seeing as the Toffees are averaging 11.6 fouls committed per game in the Premier League and will have the added hostility of Anfield to deal with. 

Liverpool will be without Conor Bradley and Trent Alexander-Arnold for this Merseyside Derby which should see Jarell Quansah step into a right back role as he did in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final - a game in which he committed two fouls. 

He’ll line up against Carlos Alcaraz who has been bright in his early performances for Everton since joining in the January transfer window, he’s won five fouls across his seven Premier League appearances so far (1.39 per 90). Like O’Brien, Quansah looks a little awkward at times at right back and it is likely that Everton will look to target his side of the pitch as an avenue to break down what has been an impressive Liverpool backline this season. Liverpool are averaging 11.6 fouls committed per game in the Premier League this season and committed 20 in the initial meeting between the sides at Goodison Park in which Quansah didn’t feature. 

O’Brien has received three cautions in the Premier League this season despite only starting nine games with his most recent yellow card coming against Manchester United at home in a game which Everton drew 2-2. O’Brien’s imposing stature aids him when it comes to winning duels but equally he isn’t the most mobile in wide areas where he occasionally looks uncomfortable as he is not a natural fullback. Liverpool won’t get much success against O’Brien in the air (60.5% aerial duels won this season) but can expose his lack of mobility in 1v1 duels with the likes of Diaz and Gakpo operating on that side of the pitch. 

Quansah is averaging 1.57 fouls committed per 90 across his 10 Premier League appearances this season, picking up one yellow card across these appearances which isn’t the most standout record but of these 10 appearances, only two have been starts indicating that Slot doesn’t exactly trust Quansah in the top flight as much as he does other defenders in the squad. Given the injuries to Bradley, Alexander-Arnold and Gomez, Slot doesn’t have much choice here other than to deploy the 22 year old in an unnatural position which should increase his chances of committing a foul and picking up a booking here.