Everton manager David Moyes is relishing the prospect of Monday night's Merseyside derby as he seeks a first win at Anfield.
The Scot cannot wait to face Liverpool and attempt to put to bed a poor record against his team's local rivals.
While Moyes has carved out a reputation as being one of the game's brightest coaches, he has not achieved a victory at Anfield since taking charge in March 2002.
Yet he will make the short trip with plenty of confidence, given that his side are in a rich vein of form and have chalked up six successive clean sheets.
He said: "I was involved in derbies with Rangers when I was a player at Celtic, so I know exactly what they mean.
"The Merseyside derbies are very similar to the ones in Glasgow with the tension around the games. You can never tell sometimes how they will go.
"The difference with the one in Scotland when I was a player was that the games were much tighter because the clubs were in similar positions in the league.
"They were also challenging to be one or two and the financial situations of the clubs were also much closer together.
"That is slightly different down here. Nevertheless it is a great derby and I am looking forward to being involved in another one."
Everton go into the match on the back of a 2-0 victory against Hull in which Mikel Arteta scored his fifth goal of the season.
The Spaniard is back to his best after an operation in the summer to correct a stomach injury and will play a key role against Liverpool with the clubs also due to meet in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Arteta said: "It will be strange playing them twice in seven days. It is a difficult task for us.
"But we will prepare for the games well and make it as hard for them as we can.
"I have talked to my friend Xabi (Alonso) about the games but he knows, as do all the Liverpool players, it will be tough."
Defender Joseph Yobo could come into contention after missing the last four matches because of a hamstring injury.
Midfielder Marouane Fellaini is ruled out through suspension after amassing 10 bookings for the season.
The Scot cannot wait to face Liverpool and attempt to put to bed a poor record against his team's local rivals.
While Moyes has carved out a reputation as being one of the game's brightest coaches, he has not achieved a victory at Anfield since taking charge in March 2002.
Yet he will make the short trip with plenty of confidence, given that his side are in a rich vein of form and have chalked up six successive clean sheets.
He said: "I was involved in derbies with Rangers when I was a player at Celtic, so I know exactly what they mean.
"The Merseyside derbies are very similar to the ones in Glasgow with the tension around the games. You can never tell sometimes how they will go.
"The difference with the one in Scotland when I was a player was that the games were much tighter because the clubs were in similar positions in the league.
"They were also challenging to be one or two and the financial situations of the clubs were also much closer together.
"That is slightly different down here. Nevertheless it is a great derby and I am looking forward to being involved in another one."
Everton go into the match on the back of a 2-0 victory against Hull in which Mikel Arteta scored his fifth goal of the season.
The Spaniard is back to his best after an operation in the summer to correct a stomach injury and will play a key role against Liverpool with the clubs also due to meet in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Arteta said: "It will be strange playing them twice in seven days. It is a difficult task for us.
"But we will prepare for the games well and make it as hard for them as we can.
"I have talked to my friend Xabi (Alonso) about the games but he knows, as do all the Liverpool players, it will be tough."
Defender Joseph Yobo could come into contention after missing the last four matches because of a hamstring injury.
Midfielder Marouane Fellaini is ruled out through suspension after amassing 10 bookings for the season.
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