Liverpool have had a break since going out of the Champions League and losing the Carabao Cup final, and I don't think we will see them wobble here. Quite the opposite in fact, now their focus is just on the Premier League.

The Reds also felt wronged by Everton's late equaliser at Goodison Park in February so there will be all of that bubbling under, and Arne Slot's side will feel they have a point to prove.

They are going to put Everton under all sorts of pressure, but the Toffees will be well organised defensively and have an eye on a counter-attack too.

Everton boss David Moyes has transformed a team that was lacking belief, and he would love nothing more than to go to Anfield and get something.

I am expecting a typical derby, in that I would not be surprised if this is another emotional game as well as an explosive one, with maybe a couple of players losing their heads.

There will be plenty of drama along the way, but I am pretty sure Liverpool will be back to their best form and end up taking the three points.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

John Aldridge
Former Liverpool striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

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On Everton and Liverpool playing out a fiery 2-2 draw in their final meeting at Goodison Park in February...

Goodison Park is a really tough place to go.

The fans certainly got behind their team and Everton got draw that they deserved at the end of the day.

They have renewed confidence and a belief in themselves and are unbeaten for a while.

They will look to make the game scrappy and busy in the midfield so that Liverpool do not have any fluency, because if we do and we play well, we can beat anyone. Everyone knows that.

David Moyes admits he does not look forward to visiting Anfield after failing to guide a team to victory at Liverpool's home ground in 21 previous attempts.

The Scot went to Anfield 12 times as Everton manager in his first spell at the club, and has since visited with Manchester United and West Ham.

In total, his sides have drawn seven and lost 14 games away to Liverpool, while Moyes managed six draws with the Toffees - the last was a goalless draw on 5 May, 2013.

"I'd be lying if I said I look forward to going to it [Anfield] all the time," said Moyes.

"We might be further away from Liverpool than we ever have been at the moment.

"I want to win and I want to make sure we get rid of [this record] at Anfield."

In reference to that fiery late conclusion to February's 2-2 draw at Goodison Park, Liverpool manager head coach Arne Slot said he is expecting more of the same when Everton visit Anfield tonight.

Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were sent off after the final whistle as they protested a decision to allow James Tarkowski's late leveller to stand following a VAR review.

That followed the dismissal of Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure and Reds midfielder Curtis Jones for a post-match tussle.

"Football-wise, I expect the same," said the Dutchman as he prepares to host an Everton side unbeaten in nine matches under returning manager David Moyes.

"It would be a surprise if they are going to do anything different, and we are top of the league so it would be strange if we were going to change something as well.

"In the final stages of the season, every game matters."

John Aldridge
Former Liverpool striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

My problem with Liverpool is that the forwards have not been at it for a month now.

They haven't been doing the job, whichever forward you look at. If they had done their job against Paris St-Germain early on, we would have gone through in the Champions League.

They do not have the confidence, have been missing chances and been very quiet for a while.

I am sure if the forwards play well, we will win the game.

Liverpool have lost just one of their past 24 Premier League home games against Everton, winning five of the past six at Anfield.

Following a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park in the reverse fixture, Everton are looking to avoid defeat in both Premier League meetings with Liverpool for the first time since 2020-21, when they won 2-0 at Anfield after a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

Games between Liverpool and Everton have produced more red cards than any other fixture in Premier League history (25), with the Toffees' 17 reds against the Reds also the most one team has against another in the competition.

Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones were both sent off late on in the reverse fixture in February.

John Aldridge
Former Liverpool striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool are in a tricky situation where we have not been in all season long.

We have lost a bit of confidence after going out of the Champions League to Paris St-Germain and with Newcastle deservedly beating us to win the Carabao Cup.

We have gone off the boil and Arsenal won against Fulham last night to turn up the pressure.

We shouldn't have any problems with a nine-point lead and a game in hand, but things happen in football.

I go back to that horrible night when Arsenal won the title with the very last kick of the [1989] season. I played that game, so I take nothing for granted.

Liverpool need to make sure to get the job done because Everton are fancying their chances against Liverpool for the first time in a long while.

Premier League

Time to look ahead to tonight's Premier League game - it is a bumper Wednesday programme with six mouthwatering fixtures.

And none waters the mouth as much as the Merseyside derby, as Liverpool and Everton prepare for battle once again...

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on Mauricio Pochettino: "Mauricio, if he wants to come back one day, I hope it happens for him. We all have dreams and aspirations, if that’s what he wants. You’re suggesting that he’s trying to put pressure on me?

"Well, I don’t feel disrespected. I think if you ask Mauricio that question directly, you’d get a pretty clear answer as to what his intent was. Again, nothing from me to sort of be consumed with. I’m more focused on making sure we try and win tomorrow night."

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Ange Postecoglou said it would be "good" to have first-choice centre-back pairing Christian Romero and Micky van de Ven back on the pitch together for Thursday's Premier League trip to Chelsea.

The last time World Cup-winner Romero and Netherlands defender Van de Ven managed to play a full 90 minutes together in the Premier League was in the 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on 27 October.

Van de Ven has missed a total of 30 games this season, in all competitions, through a combination of knee, thigh and hamstring problems, while Argentina defender Romero returned in March after spending three months out with a hamstring issue.

Their last appearance together in a Premier League game came against Chelsea in the reverse fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December, when both players limped off in a 4-3 defeat.

Chelsea

Earlier, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was speaking at his pre-match media conference ahead of facing Spurs tomorrow night.

He was asked about Jadon Sancho, amid reports the Blues are looking to pull out of their agreement to sign him from Manchester United. Here is what the Blues boss had to say...

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham go into the final run of what has been a difficult season with an injury list that finally looks to be easing.

Manager Ange Postecoglou has come under increasing pressure throughout the campaign as his injury-hit side dropped into the bottom half of the Premier League.

Yet they expect to go into Thursday's clash at London rivals Chelsea with just four members of the senior squad missing.

Ruled out:

• Radu Dragusin - Romania defender out for the season after undergoing knee surgery
• Dejan Kulusevski - Swedish midfielder back training after an ankle injury but not ready to return
• Kevin Danso - Austrian centre-back nearing return from a thigh problem

Doubtful:

• Richarlison - Brazil striker being monitored as he trains with the first-team following a leg injury

Passed fit:

• Lucas Bergvall - Midfielder returned from Sweden duty early due to illness but has recovered in time

Tottenham Hotspur

Before he spoke to the media, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou gave an update on his side's injuries.

"Kevin [Danso] and Deki [Dejan Kulusevski] are working hard still, they’re probably a couple of weeks away, but both are progressing well.”

Lucas Bergvall could return for the match against Chelsea after illness.

Postecoglou has confirmed that Richarlison is back in training.

"It's about when we reintroduce him to the matchday squad, but he's training with the main training group, which is positive."

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Manager Enzo Maresca was open about an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to a Chelsea academy side over the international break, ahead of facing Spurs tomorrow.

The Italian admitted that the team, which included the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Jadon Sancho and Malo Gusto, fell short of his "high standards".

Maresca cancelled a scheduled day off for his players, but he also said it was "normal" for players to relax during the international break and that was the end of the matter.

Tottenham Hotspur

Son Heung-Min has nine Premier League assists this season, he is one away from recording 10+ assists in four separate seasons in the competition (10 in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2023-24), which would equal Christian Eriksen’s Premier League record for Tottenham.

However, Son has faced Chelsea in the league 17 times without providing a single assist – the most he’s faced a side in the Premier League without setting up a goal.

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Tottenham Hotspur

Ange Postecoglou gave an update on his players form after the March international break.

“It was a good international break for us. Firstly, obviously no-one picked up anything, which is important, but also some guys got some game time which we felt was going to be important, guys like [Cristian] Romero, Destiny [Udogie], Matty Tel (pictured), Wilson [Odobert] and all these guys who missed a lot of football recently all got some good game time.

"The ones who played all did relatively well, they're all back and we’ve had a strong training group in the last couple of days."

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Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on training during the international break: "It's been a good break, bit unusual no game at weekend which worked well, majority of our international players played so we gave them couple of days to recover, instead of flying straight back and the guys here worked hard and had days off."