Liverpool host Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday afternoon. The reverse fixture at Goodison Park saw the game end 2-2, with a Leighton Baines own goal and a Luis Suarez strike giving the Reds a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes. However, Leon Osman and Steven Naismith scored over the next 15 minutes to tie the game

Daniel Sturridge
Reuters

Where to Watch Live

Kick-off is set for 1.30pm BST. Live coverage is on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD. Catch highlights on Match of the Day 2 on BBC One and BBC One HD at 10.25pm BST.

Overview

Liverpool enter this game after a 6-0 thumping of Newcastle United last weekend. Brendan Rodgers began a 10-game period without Uruguayan international Suarez - banned for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic - in style, with England youngsters Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge scoring a brace each. Italian international striker Fabio Borini also scored, which will give him confidence as he returns from injury.

The win moves the Reds to within five points of their cross-town rivals and with only two games apiece after Sunday's encounter, the race for bragging rights in the city will be a close one... if Rodgers can upend David Moyes in this game.

The ex-Swansea City boss has the home side in reasonable form going into this game, with a five game unbeaten run. However, two of those five were goalless draws and a third was a 2-2 draw (against Chelsea; also the scene of the Ivanovic-Suarez incident). This means the win at St James' Park was the club's first since March. The run has seen Liverpool concede only three times while score 10; again six came against Newcastle. Consistency of results will play a large part in where Liverpool finish this season.

Anfield has been a relative fortress, with home fans sitting through only four defeats so far. More importantly, the side has shipped only 16 goals all season while scoring 32.

Leighton Baines
Reuters

The Toffees have a similar recent record but scoring goals appears to be a problem. Moyes has only three goals from the last four games. Fortunately, the defence has backed the side, with only one goal conceded in the last four.

Their last game was a 1-0 home win over Fulham, with Steven Pienaar netting the winner. However, Everton's away record suggests club fans are likely to be in for another low-scoring affair. The Toffees have eight draws from 17 games on the road, the most of any side in the league so far this season.

Of course, statistics don't really mean much when the game is a derby of this magnitude. As with the first game of the season, we are likely to see a fast and attacking start, particularly since Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed how much it means to him to win these games.

Team Form

Liverpool

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W D D D W
  • Last Match: Newcastle United 0 - 6 Liverpool

Everton

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W L D W D
  • Last Match: Everton 1 - 0 Fulham

Team News

Steven Gerrard
Reuters

Suarez remains suspended but Borini should be fit to start; he came off the bench in the last game. This means Joe Allen (shoulder) and Martin Kelly (knee) are the only long-term absentees.

Probable Line-Up: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson; Downing, Coutinho, Sturridge

Tony Hibbert is fit and available but Moyes is likely to retain Seamus Coleman at right-back. Darron Gibson (hip) is definitely unavailable though. One of Ross Barkley or Nikica Jelavic will partner Victor Anichebe up front, with the Croatian likely to get the nod.

Probable Line-Up: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Mirallas, Fellaini, Osman, Pienaar; Anichebe; Jelavic

Manchester United FC