Sunday 28th October 2012
Kick-off: 14.30
(live @ Sky Calcio 8)
Goodison Park
Everton FC
(4th)
v
Liverpool FC
(12th)
Kick-off: 14.30
(live @ Sky Calcio 8)
Goodison Park
Everton FC
(4th)
v
Liverpool FC
(12th)
Everton and Liverpool meet at Goodison Park on Sunday for the 219th Merseyside derby. David Moyes' home team are in the rare situation of going into the game as favourites against their neighbours after opening a six-point and eight-position advantage. In contrast, Brendan Rodgers has been frustrated by the start of his Liverpool reign after collecting just nine points from eight matches to leave them in 12th position. But the old clichés about form and derbies will all be given an airing and Liverpool will remain confident after winning all three of their meetings with Everton in the league and cup last season. Whatever happens at Goodison Park on Sunday, it seems certain to be another fiery encounter as the derby has seen more red cards - 20 - than any other fixture in Premier League history.
• Everton have scored the joint-most headed goals in the Premier League (6 along with Man Utd) and they account for a league-high proportion of 40% of their goals this season.
• Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals from outside the box than any other team (4) and it accounts for 40% of their total this season.
David Moyes will go into the derby clash without Steven Pienaar, who serves a one-match ban for the red received for two yellows in the 1-1 draw with QPR. The Everton boss says that Marouane Fellaini has 'a good chance' of being fit. The Belgian midfielder has been sidelined with a knee injury since the 2-2 draw at Wigan, but could return to the starting line-up for the visit of Liverpool. Moyes is also hopeful that Tony Hibbert could make his return for the fixture, but has ruled midfielder Darron Gibson out.
T Howard • T Hibbert, P Jagielka, S Distin, L Baines • S Naismith, P Neville, L Osman, K Mirallas • M Fellaini • N Jelavic
Pepe Reina is back in training at Melwood and manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed he will assess the 'keeper's fitness levels over the coming days to see if he can feature in the game. Reina sat out last Saturday's 1-0 victory over Reading after sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty with Spain. His return would seem set to be the only change made to the Liverpool lineup going into the Goodison derby clash, with Rodgers unlikely to tamper with a winning side that delivered a clean sheet.
P Reina • A Wisdom, M Skrtel, D Agger, G Johnson • S Gerrard, J Allen • N Sahin • Suso, L Suarez, R Sterling
