Liverpool and Everton will clash Monday night in the first of two mouth-watering, back-to-back Merseyside derbies. Both have plenty to play for, and the hosts have a point to prove as well.
Even though the Reds sit top of the Premier League after 21 games, pundits across the country continue to question whether they have what it takes to keep Manchester United and Chelsea at bay until the middle of May.
Last weekend’s draw against Stoke City only offered the doubters more evidence to back up their argument. It was the second time this season that Rafa Benitez’s men had failed to score against the pre-season relegation favourites, as they endured a similarly frustrating stalemate when the Potters visited Anfield in September.
But that result four months ago kicked Liverpool into gear, sending them on a run of seven wins in their next eight league games – a streak that began with an impressive 2-0 win at Goodison Park. They will hope history repeats itself, but they are up against a much more confident side this time around.
Everton endured a difficult start to the season, as defensive issues – such as conceding 20 goals in their first 10 outings – saw them languish near the foot of the table. Just past the halfway point, however, they have clawed their way up to sixth place in the standings, with out-of-sorts Arsenal just three points above them in fifth.
So complete has been the Toffees’ turnaround that they skip across Stanley Park as the form side, having won five of their last six games in all competitions. Impressively, some key players have been unavailable in that time – midget midfielder Tim Cahill has been forced to deputise as a centre-forward, such is the length of the club’s injury list.
But David Moyes’ men are fighters by nature, and that hasn’t changed even though the squad’s technical level has improved in recent years. They will face their local rivals knowing that they are fully capable of claiming all three points, and the fact such a result could knock Liverpool off the top – pending the result of Manchester United’s clash with Bolton Wanderers – will only spur them on.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Jan 10 Stoke City 0-0 Liverpool
Jan 03 Preston North End 0-2 Liverpool
Dec 28 Newcastle United 1-5 Liverpool
Dec 26 Liverpool 3-0 Bolton Wanderers
Dec 21 Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool
Everton
Jan 10 Everton 2-0 Hull City
Jan 03 Macclesfield Town 0-1 Everton
Dec 28 Everton 3-0 Sunderland
Dec 26 Middlesbrough 0-1 Everton
Dec 22 Everton 0-0 Chelsea
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
The Reds have received a huge boost with the news that in-form playmaker Xabi Alonso will be available, after missing the Stoke draw with a foot injury picked up at Preston. Alvaro Arbeloa is also expected to return to the starting XI after recovering from a strained hamstring, while Daniel Agger has shrugged off a calf problem.
Meanwhile, Fernando Torres – another hamstring victim – is a chance to make his first start since November. The 24-year-old striker featured as a substitute in Liverpool’s last two outings and could reclaim the centre-forward slot from Dirk Kuyt, who would likely line up on the right.
Emiliano Insua is away with the Argentina Under-20s at the South American Youth Championships, so Fabio Aurelio will get another chance to stake a claim at left-back.
Possible XI: Reina – Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio – Alonso, Mascherano – Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera – Torres
Everton
The Blues will have to make do without Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who is suspended after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season last weekend.
The news is little better on the injury front, especially in the striking department. Yakubu is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles, while fellow forwards Louis Saha (hamstring) and James Vaughan (knee) are also sidelined.
Matters are almost as bad at the back, as Joseph Yobo (hamstring), Nuno Valente (knee) and Lars Jacobsen (shoulder) are all expected to miss out.
Possible XI: Howard – Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines – Osman, Neville, Rodwell, Pienaar – Arteta – Cahill
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool
Fernando Torres did the damage when the two teams met at Goodison earlier in the season, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory for the visitors. The Reds have sorely missed ‘El Nino’ at times, and if he starts on Monday he will be expected to find the net – he already has three goals from two Merseyside derby appearances, after all.
Everton
Continuing the Spanish theme, Mikel Arteta has been in excellent form for the Toffees. The Basque star has taken up a more classical playmaking role in recent weeks and has flourished, finding both his team-mates and the net with alarming regularity. Should give Javier Mascherano a proper work-out.
Even though the Reds sit top of the Premier League after 21 games, pundits across the country continue to question whether they have what it takes to keep Manchester United and Chelsea at bay until the middle of May.
Last weekend’s draw against Stoke City only offered the doubters more evidence to back up their argument. It was the second time this season that Rafa Benitez’s men had failed to score against the pre-season relegation favourites, as they endured a similarly frustrating stalemate when the Potters visited Anfield in September.
But that result four months ago kicked Liverpool into gear, sending them on a run of seven wins in their next eight league games – a streak that began with an impressive 2-0 win at Goodison Park. They will hope history repeats itself, but they are up against a much more confident side this time around.
Everton endured a difficult start to the season, as defensive issues – such as conceding 20 goals in their first 10 outings – saw them languish near the foot of the table. Just past the halfway point, however, they have clawed their way up to sixth place in the standings, with out-of-sorts Arsenal just three points above them in fifth.
So complete has been the Toffees’ turnaround that they skip across Stanley Park as the form side, having won five of their last six games in all competitions. Impressively, some key players have been unavailable in that time – midget midfielder Tim Cahill has been forced to deputise as a centre-forward, such is the length of the club’s injury list.
But David Moyes’ men are fighters by nature, and that hasn’t changed even though the squad’s technical level has improved in recent years. They will face their local rivals knowing that they are fully capable of claiming all three points, and the fact such a result could knock Liverpool off the top – pending the result of Manchester United’s clash with Bolton Wanderers – will only spur them on.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Jan 10 Stoke City 0-0 Liverpool
Jan 03 Preston North End 0-2 Liverpool
Dec 28 Newcastle United 1-5 Liverpool
Dec 26 Liverpool 3-0 Bolton Wanderers
Dec 21 Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool
Everton
Jan 10 Everton 2-0 Hull City
Jan 03 Macclesfield Town 0-1 Everton
Dec 28 Everton 3-0 Sunderland
Dec 26 Middlesbrough 0-1 Everton
Dec 22 Everton 0-0 Chelsea
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
The Reds have received a huge boost with the news that in-form playmaker Xabi Alonso will be available, after missing the Stoke draw with a foot injury picked up at Preston. Alvaro Arbeloa is also expected to return to the starting XI after recovering from a strained hamstring, while Daniel Agger has shrugged off a calf problem.
Meanwhile, Fernando Torres – another hamstring victim – is a chance to make his first start since November. The 24-year-old striker featured as a substitute in Liverpool’s last two outings and could reclaim the centre-forward slot from Dirk Kuyt, who would likely line up on the right.
Emiliano Insua is away with the Argentina Under-20s at the South American Youth Championships, so Fabio Aurelio will get another chance to stake a claim at left-back.
Possible XI: Reina – Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio – Alonso, Mascherano – Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera – Torres
Everton
The Blues will have to make do without Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who is suspended after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season last weekend.
The news is little better on the injury front, especially in the striking department. Yakubu is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles, while fellow forwards Louis Saha (hamstring) and James Vaughan (knee) are also sidelined.
Matters are almost as bad at the back, as Joseph Yobo (hamstring), Nuno Valente (knee) and Lars Jacobsen (shoulder) are all expected to miss out.
Possible XI: Howard – Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines – Osman, Neville, Rodwell, Pienaar – Arteta – Cahill
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool
Fernando Torres did the damage when the two teams met at Goodison earlier in the season, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory for the visitors. The Reds have sorely missed ‘El Nino’ at times, and if he starts on Monday he will be expected to find the net – he already has three goals from two Merseyside derby appearances, after all.
Everton
Continuing the Spanish theme, Mikel Arteta has been in excellent form for the Toffees. The Basque star has taken up a more classical playmaking role in recent weeks and has flourished, finding both his team-mates and the net with alarming regularity. Should give Javier Mascherano a proper work-out.