EVERTON V LIVERPOOL
Barclays Premiership | Sat, 20 Oct 07, 12:45 | Goodison Park

And here we go again for the 206th time! And revenge will surely be on the cards for Liverpool, following their last trip across Stanley Park which left them battered and bruised having sunk to a 3-0 defeat to their local rivals.

Rafael Benitez’s men will be keen to put this one to bed, especially following a run of disappointing results in the league and in Europe. Winning this fixture will give the squad the confidence they need to knock their campaign back to shape. In football confidence is everything; a team full of confidence forms a habit of winning and when that confidence goes, you could play the same team again and watch them crumble. Which is what Liverpool have appeared to have lost recently, if we can get it back, we are back in the hunt again, on all fronts.

This fixture means a lot more than just 3 points and local pride, it could make or break Liverpool’s league season a win would instil the perfect mindset going to our next Champions League fixture away to Besiktas and the following league fixture at home to league-leaders, Arsenal, a good result at Goodison followed by good results in Turkey and Anfield would see Liverpool right smack back in the hunt for silverware.

Liverpool have been hit pretty hard on the injury front, several key players have been missing from the starting line-up. Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger are both suffering broken metatarsals, Agger is definitely out for this one, while Alonso is still a doubt but could make a recovery after returning to training in the week. Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt are also injured but could make appearances, Torres is recovering from a thigh injury and is making good progress, Kuyt is back along with Harry Kewell in training and will hopefully be fit come Saturday.

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Form Guide (Last 5 Competitive Games)

Liverpool:
22nd Sep – Birmingham City – Home- Barclays Premiership -DREW 0-0
25th Sep – Reading – Away – Carling Cup – WIN 4-2
29th Sep – Wigan Athletic – Away - Barclays Premiership – WIN 1-0
3rd Oct - Olympique Marseille – Home – Champions League - LOSS 1-0
7th Tottenham Hotspur – Home - Barclays Premiership – DREW 2-2

Everton:
23rd Sep – Aston Villa –Away - Barclays Premiership – LOSS 2-0
26th Sep – Sheffield Wednesday – Away – Carling Cup - WON 3-0
30th Sep – Middlesbrough – Home - Barclays Premiership – WON 2-0
4th Oct - Metalist Kharkiv – Away – UEFA Cup – WON 3-2
7th Oct – Newcastle United – Away - Barclays Premiership – LOSS 3-2

Team News

Injures/Doubtfuls:

Liverpool:
Fernando Torres (Thigh)
Fabio Aurelio (Calf/Shin)
Xabi Alonso (Metatarsal)
Daniel Agger (Metatarsal)
Harry Kewell (Groin)

Everton:
Andy Johnson (Ankle/Foot)
Thomas Gravesen (Knee)
Tim Cahill (Metatarsal)
James Vaughan (Shoulder)

Probable Starting XIs:

Liverpool:
Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Pennant, Sissoko, Gerrard (Captain), Babel, Voronin, Kuyt

Everton:
Howard, Neville (Captain), Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Pienaar, Carsely, Arteta, McFadden, Anichebe

Media:

The match is live on Sky Sports for UK visitors. Streams will be available online.

Brian Irvine
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