Everton - Build Up

[Joe King]

Can't believe this thread wasn't made. How you guys feeling? Confident? Nervous? Want to leave work? Well, sod you all, I'm doing revision for a law paper

I'm excited and nervous, I love derby games but I am not feeling very confident about the result judging our recent form.

[Reece]

I don't really feel nervous during Derby's, just really stressed. So in that regard I'm kind of not looking forward to it. I'll definitely have to smoke tonight so that cutting down during the week plan has lasted long

[Leyton388]

Im gonna have to watch it on the streams as i dont have satanta and refuse to pay a £12.99 a month and £15 for a connection fee the cheeky ****s

[Joe King]

Rafa Benitez believes tonight's 209th Merseyside derby is the biggest in his entire four-year reign as manager of the club.
A win over their local rivals would see Liverpool return to the summit of the Barclays Premier League and the manager feels that with such precious points at stake, it is the most important meeting between the clubs that he has overseen.

"This kind of game is always very important because it can change everything in terms of the confidence, the mentality and the belief," said Benitez.

"All derby matches are important but maybe this one is even more so because we are up towards the top of the table.

"It is only January and the league will not be won in this month so we have to remain calm, but this derby could turn out to be really important if we win it because it will give us even more confidence, especially if we also play well.

"We are playing in front of our own fans and I am very confident we can win."

Fernando Torres is expected to make his first start since recovering from a hamstring injury and Benitez will be hoping he can keep up his impressive record of scoring against the Blues.

"Clearly there are some players who for one reason or another have teams who they score quite a lot of goals against.

"Torres has scored three goals in two matches against Everton so maybe that will give him a little bit more belief than normal."

[Joe King]

Jamie Carragher believes tonight's clash with in-form Everton is one of the most important Merseyside derbies in recent memory.
The Reds defender has featured in a number of top four encounters with David Moyes' side, and while Liverpool's sights are set a little higher this season, he insists the 209th derby could prove just as crucial in shaping both sides' destiny.

"It's just as important as ever," he said.

"We had one last season which was probably important for different reasons with us and Everton both going for the top four.

"We managed to win that 1-0 and I think this time Everton have still got that objective, whereas we're maybe looking to push on a little bit more than that.

"They didn't make the best of starts to this season but they've come through really strongly since then and they're probably the form team in the league at the moment.

"As I say, we're looking for bigger and better things than the top four this season and hopefully we can win our place back at the top of the league."

Everton have enjoyed an upturn in form since the Reds cruised to a 2-0 success at Goodison Park back in September.

Carragher admits he has been impressed by the Toffees' rise under David Moyes and feels they are the side most likely, if anyone, to gatecrash the top four.

"It's no surprise because Everton have been on the up over the last three or four seasons under David Moyes," he said.

"They are always the type of team that whenever you play them you always know that you are going to be in a game.

"I think, without being disrespectful to them in any way, they are probably a team that has punched above its weight as much as anyone in the league over the last four or five years.

"A lot of teams spend a bit more money than them but they are always there challenging the top four teams.

"A few teams have said they would and spent a few quid but I think Everton have been the team most likely to put a dent in that top four."

Liverpool can reclaim top spot in the league if they take three points against their neighbours and Carragher believes they must control the threat of Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta if they to achieve their objective.

He said: "Cahill is probably the biggest threat because he's got a great record in Merseyside derbies for scoring goals.

"I think he's been playing up front lately so I'm not sure if he'll play there this time or if Anichebe will come into the side.

"But wherever he plays he is always going to be a danger because he is as good as anyone in the league for arriving late in the box and getting goals.

"So we'll have to keep an eye on him and obviously Arteta is a big threat from set pieces."

The Reds have been boosted by the return of Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa – all of whom have been absent for one reason or another of late - and the Bootle-born centre back believes it bodes well for the remainder of the season.

"We have got people coming back now which is obviously good," he said.

"We've had a few injuries over the last few weeks. The Christmas period is always busy and you always seem to pick up a few knocks, but now we're heading towards the home straight and you want everyone coming back firing.

"Torres is back, Arbeloa is training again, Aurelio and Skrtel have just played, Alonso missed the Stoke game but is ready to return, so it looks like we've got a lot of players coming back which is obviously a good thing at this stage of the season.

"Even though we drew at Stoke our away form has been superb. If anything, it's at home where we've had a couple of results that we would have liked to have been better.

"But there's no better way to respond than by getting a good result in the Merseyside derby.

"I do look forward to them. I love derby games even though they are a little bit stressful. We've got a good record in derbies so that should give us confidence.

"They are always on a knife edge and can go one way or another and the repercussions if it goes the wrong way don't bear thinking about, but they are great games to play in."

[dww]

I think it will be a horrible, hard game but we will come through. Arguably it is the sort of game we need after the disappointment of the Stoke game - something with passion and where we can prove a point. Obviously they are a good side and all but we have performed better in tougher looking fixtures this year.

[Slim]

I don't have Setanta so I am going round to my mates to watch it. Last time I saw a match at his place we beat Barcelona, so I am hoping it's a lucky omen.

Feeling pretty confident at the minute.

[Reece]

I'm just hoping we can have our strongest 11 out for a change, what with Torres being back, and Alonso having recovered from his injury. Is Arbeloa available?

[checkpoint]

Should offer a new tactical challenge for Rafa to cope with.

With Everton playing the rarly used 4-6-0 formation

[S-RED]

Just found these stats on BBC;

CLUB FORM
LIVERPOOL

Club stats

Going into the weekend: 1st 46 points


Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)

1. Won five and drawn five of the last 10 Premier League matches since losing 2-1, away to Tottenham on 1 November - their only loss in 21 this season, and in 28 overall.

2. Seven points down on this same stage last season, when fourth in the table.

3. Unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season; won six and drawn four.

4. Undefeated in 21 home league games; won 15 and drawn six since losing 0-1 to Manchester United on 16 December 2007 - their only defeat in 33 league games at Anfield.

5. Kept clean sheets in all but two of the last eight home league games.

6. Won all seven North-West league derbies this season.

[Joe King]

I'm just hoping we can have our strongest 11 out for a change, what with Torres being back, and Alonso having recovered from his injury. Is Arbeloa available?

Yes

Should offer a new tactical challenge for Rafa to cope with.

With Everton playing the rarly used 4-6-0 formation

Early goal needed. Get that Anfield roar and they will open up wider than Robbie Williams mouth.

[Pablo]

Everyone LFC fan at work is uncharacteristically nervous for this one tonight, I honestly think the title challenge is making all us Liverpool fans a bag of nerves.

I think we could really do with a commanding win today to get the belief back. An early goal would be magic.

[Reece]

Yes

Muchos gracias

[meffin]

Fellani os banned for this game, so thats a good start

[MindGuerrillas]

2. Seven points down on this same stage last season, when fourth in the table.

I think that's the wrong way round. It should be that we are 7 points up on this stage last season.