Merseyside Derby: Five things to watch for

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: The tunnel at Goodison Park before the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on December 19, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: The tunnel at Goodison Park before the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on December 19, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images) /
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MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 14: Divock Origi of Liverpool celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Liverpool at the Riverside Stadium on December 14, 2016, in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill – AMA/Getty Images)
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 14: Divock Origi of Liverpool celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Liverpool at the Riverside Stadium on December 14, 2016, in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill – AMA/Getty Images) /

2. Forwards on form

The two men to watch up top are Belgian strikers Divock Origi and Romelu Lukaku.

Origi has been essential for Liverpool with five goals in his last five appearances including one assist. He earned some criticism against Bournemouth for not helping close out the match with the same energy as some of his teammates, but his goalscoring form is certainly not in question.

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Manning the center of the park, Origi is flanked by Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, both of whom are also playing well, and has buried chances from just about everywhere inside the 18-yard-box when the opportunity arises.

Romelu Lukaku did not score against Arsenal, but he did bag a brace against Watford in their 3-2 loss last weekend for his first Premier League goals since the end of October. It’s been an odd dry spell for the normally potent attacker, but with a flair for big occasions, it’s possible that he gets stuck in a physical battle with the likely pairing of Liverpool’s central defenders in Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan.

Not to be outdone by his fellow countryman, expect a heavily involvement from Lukaku.