Liverpool

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Will Cody Gakpo get his first goal in a Liverpool shirt?

"Everybody sees the results, it's a little bit of a difficult time," the Netherlands forward tells Sky Sports.

"But we're determined to work hard and go back to better times again. This is always a special kind of match and we are ready to go for it."

Liverpool

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking to Sky Sports: "This will be a difficult game - we all know that. Sean is an exceptional manager and we saw that against Arsenal. We know what to expect and we have to be ready."

Everton

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Everton boss Sean Dyche, speaking to Sky Sports: "There are a lot of big games in the Premier League - this is certainly one of them. I'm looking forward to being part of it.

"It all starts with hard graft and the body language of the team and the freedom to go and play. We need to find some consistency."

On Ellis Simms: "He's a young player who has been out on loan a couple of times and done quite well. He has a physical presence and good pace. It's a big game for him."

James Mountford
BBC Radio Merseyside Sport

Back on 21 January, Everton had lost at West Ham which was apparently a ‘must-win’ game which may decide the fate of the losers. Frank Lampard was sacked and Everton had 15 points after 20 games, needing another 25 with under half a season remaining to reach the common safety mark. A tall order.

Cue the arrival of Sean Dyche and phrases such as "sweat on the shirt" and "basic principles" - not to mention images of a manager performing the bleep test on his new players and banning the snood.

Then what really mattered... a win over leaders Arsenal - Everton’s first three points since 22 October and the Gunners' first league defeat since early September. Wow.

Let's not paint over the cracks, though. The failure to bring in any players in January is still hard to fathom and the many fans who gathered outside Goodison last Saturday are still shouting for change at boardroom level.

But a team that battles and fights - and, yes, sweats - will at least give these supporters their pride back, regardless of the result.

Most Everton fans were silently dreading tonight's Merseyside derby against Liverpool a few weeks back. Now, it's arguably the Red half of the city who are the more concerned.

Everton

Everton are looking to win consecutive Premier League games for the second time this season, previously beating West Ham and Southampton in September/October.

However, the Toffees have won just two of their past 27 away games in the competition (D7 L18).

Everton

Everton manager Sean Dyche jokingly explains the reasoning behind a ban on wearing snoods and hats at the club's training ground.

Everton

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Everton boss Sean Dyche says his opposite number Jurgen Klopp "does not want or need" his sympathy before tonight's Merseyside derby.

When I asked Dyche about his feelings on Liverpool's struggles this season, he said: "There is no sympathy in football, only empathy. As a manager you have an understanding of others. He certainly doesn't want or need my sympathy, trust me."

I also asked him whether Klopp would still be with the Reds next season, but it's not a subject Dyche wanted to get into that.

"My focus is solely on Everton," he said.

Luke Edwards
Daily Telegraph writer on BBC Radio 5 Live

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Everton I would have said. I think they are the team with that new-manager bounce, a bit of momentum, a bit of fight. They’ve had that unexpected result against Arsenal and Sean Dyche has come in and already turned them into a Sean Dyche kind of club.

They will fancy this. Obviously they don’t have a great record against Liverpool, but Liverpool are on the flip side of that.

They feel a bit flat, they are struggling. There are question marks about Jurgen Klopp in a way there hasn’t ever been before in his time as Liverpool manager.

Things are flat there and the last thing you want to do if you’re in a bit of trouble is go into a derby match feeling flat and the other team has got a bit of a spring in their step.

Champions League

Some news that broke a short while ago...

Uefa bears "primary responsibility" for the chaotic scenes which "almost led to disaster" before last year's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, says an independent report.

Fans were penned in and tear-gassed outside Paris's Stade de France as kick-off was delayed by 36 minutes.

Uefa and French authorities initially blamed "industrial-scale" ticket fraud - which drew widespread criticism.

The report says there is "no evidence" to support the "reprehensible" claims.

Read the full piece

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Liverpool have lost just one of their past 22 home league games against Everton (W12 D9), losing 2-0 in February 2021.

BBC Two

Mastermind has just started on BBC Two if you fancy it before the game.

There was a guy on last week whose specialist subject was 'John Barnes'.

The guy absolutely smashed it by getting all 14 of his questions correct. Zero passes.

He knew John Barnes better than John Barnes knows himself.

Rory Smith
Chief Soccer Correspondent for The New York Times on BBC Radio 5 Live

Liverpool aren't very good at the moment and it's probably pushing it because it's at Anfield to say that Everton are favourites, but there is absolutely no reason they should be going into it thinking they have to hold Liverpool at bay or weather the storm.

If Everton can score within the first five minutes, which everyone else seems to do against Liverpool, I suspect they will be fine.

Will Ferrell was at the Etihad on Sunday, he's at Anfield today.

Pitchside access too.

Why?

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think this season, I have always expect Liverpool to turn things round pretty quickly after a defeat but the performances haven't been there. It's not just the results, it's the performances. I just don't see it.

It's a bit of a gamble going for an Everton win on the basis of one game but it was one hell of a game and a hell of a performance against an Arsenal team, who weren't at their very best, but I thought that was largely down to the way Everton nullified them.

I worry about Liverpool in all departments, good that they've got van Dijk back on the bench, I would have preferred to see him start for Liverpool.

Is this going to be the game to kickstart Liverpool's season once again and Klopp's recovery?

The players are out warming up at Anfield and they need a thorough warming.

The camera is aimed firmly in the direction of the aforementioned Ellis Simms.

What a huge night for the Everton striker.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

It's an early show of faith in youngster Elllis Simms from new Everton manager Sean Dyche as he starts against Liverpool. The 22-year-old was prolific in Everton's Academy sides and has shown an eye for goal in loan spells at Blackpool, Hearts and Sunderland.

Now he gets only his second Premier League start - and what a place and what opponents to get it.

Liverpool

Liverpool have suffered such issues in front of goal that their top scorer this year is from another club.

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Liverpool's performances haven't been good enough. Jurgen Klopp's press conference after the last game, he was a little bit angry, he didn't get the best of himself, now he's had time to think about it, he's here for the fight, he's here for the long haul to try and improve this side.

If you look from an Everton perspective, the two games that Sean Dyche had, Arsenal at home, Liverpool away, it didn't look great.

What a start they have had. People are saying Sean Dyche hasn't got a better chance to come here and win his first Merseyside Derby. Only Joe Royle has managed to do that at his first attempt, to get a result, to get a win. The pressure is right on Liverpool.

I think Everton can get something out of it. They will have that confidence and that belief, set-pieces are going to be key if they are going to get something out of it.