liverpool (2_0) Everton
The first Merseyside derby of the season is upon us and as intra-City rivalry heats up as the game approaches, so do the nerves for what is one of the most hotly-anticipated fixtures on Everton's ca lendar.
Having won last season's Goodison derby and drawn 2-2 at Anfield but failed to win any of the previous seven league meetings between the two before that, the Blues will be hoping to put a run of results together against Liverpool to tip the scales back in their favour and, in the immediate context of this season, move back level with the reds on points in the Premier League table.
As has become the norm, Everton enter this fixture as the underdogs on paper but with priceless home advantage. While Kenny Dalglish has splashed out £100m this year on new players, David Moyes hasn't spent any money on his first team in over two years and is likely to opt for a line-up long on industry and bite and short on craft.
Long-term absentee, Victor Anichebe aside, Tim Cahill is the only real injury concern for Moyes. The manager is hoping that heavy bruising the Australian suffered in a challenge with Vincent Kompany last Saturday will have subsided suifficiently to enable him to start the game, although whether he leads the line as the lone striker or whether Louis Saha gets the nod remains to be seen.
Elsewhere, one of Phil Neville or John Heitinga could come into central midfield to add some muscle and terrier-like qualities for a game that is always feisty and hotly contested, although Jack Rodwell's laudible efforts in shackling David Silva at the Etihad Stadium last week demonstrated that he could yet fulfil the "disruptor" role if asked to.
Perhaps the biggest question will the approach that Moyes takes after taking criticism for his ultra-defensive stance against City. He and some of the players have intimated this week that the Blues will be a lot more adventurous against Liverpool and there will be a greater emphasis on attack but the team selection will provide the biggest clues.
If Cahill is fit, will he lead the line on his own of will a natural striker play ahead of him? Will the unpredictable but pacey Royston Drenthe be handed his full Premier League debut in the cauldron of a local derby (and will he thrive in the atmosphere or get drawn into the more unsavoury side of such contests?).
Liverpool's line-up has changed sufficiently in recent times that half their likely starting XI won't have experienced a Mersey derby before while Moyes could start an entire team of players who have gone through the occasion before.
For Everton, the key will be shutting down Luis Suarez, a player who appears to so crucial to the Reds' ability to win games as to be a serious Achilles heel should he be snuffed out as a threat.
Whatever happens, it's unlikely to be a pretty affair and with more red cards than any other Premier League fixture, there's almost always controversy and disciplinary drama involved.
A scrappy goal, no sendings off and a 1-0 win for Everton would be ideal ahead of the next task against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, thank you very much!
