The 219th Merseyside derby and one that could, if Everton play as well as they have done this season result in a 9 point gap.
Whatever happens what would be great is if this games passes without niggling, accusations of diving and/or the referee having to book people for incidents that could have been easily avoided. Rodgers appears to slowly having a positive effect at Liverpool and the less whining and the more good football played, the better.
Brendan Rodgers heads into the game with his side on the back of three consecutive clean sheets, the latest coming against Anzhi in the Europa League last night. Stewart Downing, who grabbed the winning goal in that fixture could start at left back after Glen Johnson was substituted at half time with a muscle spasm.
Pepe Reina is expected to miss out once more with a hamstring injury, with Brad Jones continuing to deputise.
Everton will be missing two of their key players, with Steven Pienaar suspended following his harsh red card in the Premier League clash at Loftus Road last weekend, and Marouane Fellaini is missing with a knee injury
Everton (from): Howard, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Hibbert, Neville, Osman, Fellaini, Jelavic, Mucha, Gueye, Heitinga, Anichebe, Mirallas, Naismith, Oviedo, Coleman, Vellios, Hitzlsperger.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Jones, Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Coates, Carragher, Skrtel, Wisdom, Robinson, Sahin, Gerrard, Cole, Henderson, Downing, Allen, Sterling, Shelvey, Suarez, Assaidi, Suso, Yesil.
Match officials
Referee: A Marriner; Assistants: S Ledger, S Bennett; Fourth Official: P Dowd.
