• Allardyce expected to stay in Liverpool to work with first-team squad • Makeshift side to be fielded against Apollon Limassol in Cyprus

Sam Allardyce may miss Everton’s Europa League match at Apollon Limassol to prepare for Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Anfield.

Allardyce has confirmed he will field a makeshift team on Thursday in order to make the Premier League trip to Liverpool the priority. Apollon and Everton, who have recorded the worst performance in the competition by an English team in history, cannot qualify from the group and the visitors are set to field several youngsters in Cyprus.

It has emerged Everton may also have a below strength technical area, with Allardyce set to work with the first-team squad at the Finch Farm training ground. The newly appointed coach Craig Shakespeare will take charge of the Europa League fixture.

Allardyce had only two full days to prepare for his first win as Everton manager – the 2-0 league defeat of Huddersfield Town on Saturday – and wants to spend more time with the senior squad before the visit to Anfield.