DERBY TEAM NEWS

The following stats are from the BBC's excellent Liverpool site:

Liverpool are likely to stick with the side that ended the FA Cup tie with Newcastle last Saturday.

Emile Heskey was replaced by Anthony Le Tallec in that game, and as he has a hamstring injury, the Frenchman may earn a starting line-up place.

Everton have doubts over David Unsworth and Duncan Ferguson, and England U21 centre-back Peter Clarke may be used.

Li Tie is also a doubt with an ankle problem and goalkeeper Richard Wright is still recovering from knee surgery.

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Liverpool (from): Dudek, Finnan, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Le Tallec, Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard, Kewell, Cheyrou, Owen, Biscan, Riise, Traore, Luzi, Welsh, Otsemobor.

Everton (from): Martyn, Hibbert, Pistone, Clarke, Unsworth, Stubbs, Naysmith, Nyarko, Carsley, Watson, Gravesen, Linderoth, McFadden, Kilbane, Jeffers, Rooney, Campbell, Ferguson, Radzinski, Li Tie, Simonsen.

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BIG-MATCH FACTS

LIVERPOOL and Everton meet for the 170th time in a Merseyside League derby, with the Reds four points off the "minimum required target" of fourth and chasing a third successive victory over their arch rivals and an extension of their unbeaten run against the Toffees to nine games.

The 2-1 home win over Newcastle in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup is Liverpool's only win in three games. The Anfield club are pursuing a fourth successive home win in all competitions, and a fourth maximum in five home Premiership games.

The Reds dispelled their blues when they played at Goodison in August. The quality of the finishing made the difference that day as Wayne Rooney spurning four chances and Michael Owen scored twice to help Liverpool secure their first win of the season at the fourth attempt. Now they're chasing a second Premiership 'double' over their arch rivals and 11th over them since they first engaged in League competition in 1894.

EVERTON make the short journey across Stanley Park in search of their first victory over their fierce rivals since the 0-1 success on 27 September 1999 when Kevin Campbell got the winner.

The Toffees have not won in four League and Cup games and have won one of their last five League games. They have lost four of the last five away in all competitions including the last two and have only won once on the road in the Premiership. While Liverpool are chasing a tenth Premiership win of the season, Everton are trying to avoid any addition to their ten defeats.

Last season's local derby at Anfield was hectic and pacey, full of passion but short on outright goalscoring opportunities and ended 0-0.

Scheduled referee Graham Poll was also in charge for this season's reverse fixture.

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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

LIVERPOOL

Club stats
5th 33 points
Highest achievable at the final whistle: 5th
Lowest could realistically fall: 8th

Scored in 18 of their 22 Premier League games. Only Arsenal (20) and Chelsea (19) have netted in more.
Lying third in the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with 11 points from the possible 18.
Scored in each of the last 13 League and Cup games.
Scored one goal in each of the last four League matches.
Recorded just one home Premiership draw. Portsmouth is the only club not to have drawn at home in the top division.
Kept two home clean sheets in the highest League. Manchester City and Blackburn are the only clubs to have managed just one at home.
Gone 28 Premiership matches since losing by more than one goal.
Last lost by more than one in the highest League on 5 April when Manchester United beat the Reds 4-0 at Old Trafford.
A home tie in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup against Portsmouth awaits.
Next Premiership opponents are Bolton (a), Manchester City (h) and Portsmouth (h).
EVERTON

Club stats
14th 24 points
Highest achievable at the final whistle: 11th
Lowest could fall: 15th

Won only one away Premiership match. Wolves and Portsmouth are the only top flight clubs yet to claim a maximum on the road.
One of three clubs to have kept just one away Premiership clean sheet. The others are Leeds and Wolves.
The Toffees' 25 Premiership goals have been scored by just eight different players. Only Southampton and Newcastle have fewer Premiership scorers (seven a piece).
Gone eight Premiership games since losing by more than a single goal - 2-0 away to Bolton on 29 November.
A home tie in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup against West Ham waits, if the Fourth Round replay against Fulham can be won.
Won more corners in Premiership matches this season than any other club (144).
Conceded more penalties in Premiership matches than any other club (six).
One of two clubs to have used the highest number of players in Premiership matches this season. Everton and Leicester have both used 27 players each.
Next play Manchester United at home in the Premiership, followed by Birmingham (a) and Southampton (a).

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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

LIVERPOOL

Squad profiles

Michael OWEN, is a brace away from totalling 150 club career goals - all for Liverpool.
Suspended: El-Hadji Diouf
EVERTON

Squad profiles

Kevin CAMPBELL is a double strike short of 100 English top flight goals.
If he plays, Duncan FERGUSON will be making his 200th appearance in the English top flight.
If on the field at the opening whistle, Thomas GRAVESEN will be making his 100th Premiership start for Everton.
If selected in the eleven, Niclas ALEXANDERSSON will be making his 50th League start for the Toffees.
If he participates, Kevin KILBANE will be playing on the eve of his 27th birthday.

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LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Liverpool 0-0 Everton
22 December 2002 - Ref: Graham Poll

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE:
Everton 0-3 Liverpool
Goodison Park - Ref: Mike Riley
Liverpool scorers: Owen 39, 52, Kewell 80

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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Liverpool 62 wins, Everton 54, Draws 53
Prem: Liverpool 8 wins, Everton 6, Draws 9

HEAD TO HEAD at Liverpool
League: Liverpool 35 wins, Everton 23, Draws 26
Prem: Liverpool 4 wins, Everton 2, Draws 5

BBC