Anfield
Sunday, 20 March
Kick-off: 1605 GMT

Liverpool will welcome back Sami Hyypia, who has recovered from a stomach bug, and John Arne Riise should also return to the starting line-up.

Djimi Traore is still out with a knee problem, while Harry Kewell is not expected back for three weeks.

Everton striker James Beattie is available after suspension but Mikel Arteta (ankle) and James McFadden (hamstring) are both doubtful.

Steve Watson could make the bench after recovering from a stomach problem.

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Liverpool (from): Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Pellegrino, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Hamann, Gerrard, Riise, Smicer, Le Tallec, Nunez, Morientes, Baros, Carson, Biscan, Welsh.

Everton (from): Martyn, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Weir, Pistone, Naysmith, Carsley, Cahill, Osman, Kilbane, Bent, Beattie, Ferguson, Wright, Watson, Arteta, McFadden, Plessis.

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BIG-MATCH FACTS

LIVERPOOL trail Everton by one place, but more importantly seven points, going into the 201st Merseyside derby and 172nd League meeting. Rafael Benitez' side failed to close that gap to five points when held to a goalless draw by a well organised Blackburn at Anfield on Wednesday night. But the Reds will need victory here, and a further three points from their third successive home game, against Bolton on 2 April, if they're to stand any chance of pipping the Toffees to that fourth Champions League spot.

Benitez' boys are still going strong in this season's Champions League, but their goal threat seems to have dried up in the Premiership. They've gone three games and played 283 minutes (four hours 43 minutes) of top flight soccer since Milan Baros knocked home their third against Fulham at Anfield on 5 February. Wednesday's was their first goalless draw in the Premiership this season and in 33 League outings.

Last season's Anfield derby was one of the most exciting in years with a host of chances, which amazingly ended goalless. Liverpool have not scored in two Merseyside derbies, one of which was drawn, the other lost. The last three corresponding fixtures have finished all square, the last two goalless.

EVERTON too suffered a setback against Blackburn last time out - losing 0-1 at home on 6 March. David Moyes' side have won only one of their last five League and Cup encounters, and have remained fourth in the table despite losing five of their last 10 Premiership engagements.

The Toffees have fared better on the road than at home of late. They've picked up one win and two draws away from Goodison in the League, since losing to Tottenham on New Year's Day. But having said that, the 1-3 victory at Aston Villa in their most recent away game was a first maximum on their League travels in nearly four months.

Everton chalked up their first derby win in five years and first at home in six in this season's reverse fixture. A well-placed shot from Lee Carsley settled a scrappy 200th Merseyside derby. It sets up the chance of a first ever Premiership 'double' over Liverpool, first over them since the title winning season of 20 years ago, and tenth since they first locked League horns in 1894. However the Toffess have not won at Anfield since their 0-1 victory on 27 September 1999 courtesy of Kevin Campbell's winner.

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Referee:

Rob Styles (Waterlooville)

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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

LIVERPOOL


Club stats
Fixtures
Going into the weekend: 5th 44 points
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premiership fixtures)

Completed five Premiership draws this season. Only Chelsea have finished all square that infrequently.
Won three and drawn one of the 10 games in which they were behind at half time.
Conceded only once in the first 15 minutes of top flight encounters. Only Arsenal can equal that.
Lost 10 of the 11 League matches, in which failed to score.
EVERTON


Club stats
Fixtures
Going into the weekend: 4th 51 points
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premiership fixtures)

Won 15 Premiership games. Only Chelsea (23), and Manchester United and Arsenal (18 each) have won more.
All but two of their League victories have been by a single goal (1-3 triumphs at Crystal Palace on 21 August, and at Aston Villa on 26 February being the exceptions).
Posted eight 1-0 Premiership victories.
Won 13 and drawn one of the 14 top flight matches in which they have opened the scoring.
Turned round in front in only two top flight matches this season (0-2, away to Norwich on 23 October - and eventually won 2-3, and 0-1 at Aston Villa, winning 1-3).
Come in at the break all square in 22 games - more than any other top tier club.
Accrued two more points after 29 games, than they did at this identical stage two seasons ago when they finished seventh.
Had 46 points at this stage when finishing a Premiership best sixth in the first year of a 20-club division in 1995/96.
Like Chelsea, not lost a Premiership game once in front, and dropped just two points from a winning position - the 2-2 draw at Southampton on 6 February.
The only club not yet to have conceded a penalty in Premiership matches this season.

Won one and drawn two of the last three Premiership matches away from home.
Not lost a League game on the road since the 5-2 reverse at Tottenham on New Years Day.

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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

LIVERPOOL

Squad profiles

Jamie CARRAGHER remains the only player to have figured in every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premiership matches.
EVERTON


Squad profiles

Marcus BENT and Kevin KILBANE are the only players to have figured in each of Everton's Premiership matches this season.
Suspended: Tim CAHILL

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LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Liverpool 0-0 Everton
31 January 2004 - Ref: Steve Bennett

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THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE:
Everton 1-0 Liverpool
11 December 2004 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Everton scorer: Carsley 68

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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Liverpool 62 wins, Everton 55, Draws 54
Prem: Liverpool 8 wins, Everton 7, Draws 10

HEAD TO HEAD at Liverpool
League: Liverpool 35 wins, Everton 23, Draws 27
Prem: Liverpool 4 wins, Everton 2, Draws 6

from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4343223.stm