Team News
Everton manager David Moyes is hopeful midfielder Marouane Fellaini and full-back Tony Hibbert will be fit for Sunday's Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Goodison Park.
Fellaini missed last weekend's draw with QPR because of a knee injury while Hibbert has not played for more than a month after sustaining a calf problem.
Midfielder Darron Gibson is still sidelined and playmaker Steven Pienaar serves a one-match ban after his controversial sending-off at Loftus Road.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will continue to monitor the condition of goalkeeper Jose Reina.
Reina has been nursing a hamstring problem picked up on international duty with Spain and missed the win over Reading last Saturday and Thursday's Europa League victory against Anzhi Makhachkala, but has been back in training.
Rodgers has no fresh injury concerns, with Martin Kelly , Lucas Leiva and Fabio Borini remaining sidelined.
Match Notes
Not since Roy Evans in 1994 has a newly appointed Liverpool manager won his first derby.
Brendan Rodgers hopes to achieve what was beyond Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish (2nd time around), sampling instant victory in the fixture that matters most to supporters.
Everton are stronger and head into the game clear favourites, but they've often failed to hit their stride when faced with elevated expectations - last year's FA Cup semi-final still a sore memory.
Betting: Home 8-5, Away 8-5, Draw 11-5.
Stat of the game: This fixture has produced more red cards than any other in the Premier League with 20 sent off in Merseyside derbies.
Chris Bascombe's prediction: Everton 1 Liverpool 1.
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