They are normally fiery affairs and this one promises to be no different to any other with both sides unbeaten so far this season and to make matters more interesting, Graham Poll has been selected to referee the match. This fixture is the fixture that has seen the most red cards in the Premierhip, with Poll showing a few of them, inlcuding red cards to Mikel Arteta and Phil Neville in this fixture last season. Poll was also in charge for the imfaous incidents when Steven Gerrard was somehow not sent off for a double footed lunge into the thigh of Gary Naysmith, as well as whe Don Hutchison had a good goal dissallowed in the final seconds of the Goodison Derby in 2000, to stop Everton doing the double over their rivals.

Everton are without 2 first team players going into the derby, Alan Stubbs picked up an injury at Blackburn 2 weeks ago but has not recovered fully yet. The other player out is James McFadden who got an injury when playing for Scotland against Lithunia on Wednesday. It is likely that Moyes will employ the 4-5-1 system that worked so well away at Tottenham when Everton gained their first win at White Hart Lane in 21 years, with Simon Davies being the player most likely to come in for the departed Kevin Kilbane.

For Liverpool they are without John Arne Riise and their rock at the back Jaime Carragher. But the reds welcome back Momo Sissoko, who was arguably the man of the match against Everton at Anfield last season. The main problem for the visitors will be which of their 4 strikers they select. They have options of playing new signing Dirk Kuyt, the in form striker Peter Crouch, the lively Craig Bellamy and Robbie Fowler, who always seems to score against Everton.

Liverpool have won 5 out of the last 6 Goodison derbies, with Everton's one win in the last 9 seasons coming in 2004/5, with Lee Carsley scoring the winner. With Liverpool being dominant in this fixture for such a long time, Evertonians believe they are due some luck in this fixture and with Andy Johnson is such outstanding form and full of confidence following his two latest England caps, the blues have rarely been so confident that they can beat their fiercest rivals.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS