WITH only five points separating the two teams going into the first ever derby at the Hill Dickinson stadium, this could be the closest Merseyside derby for years.
Everton go into the derby on stronger form than Liverpool, with only one loss from their last five matches and three wins.
They have picked up 10 points from those games and have only lost four matches this calendar year.
A win for Liverpool today would ensure another league double over their bitter rivals, but their campaign has fallen apart since their 2-1 win in the reverse fixture back in September.
The away side are on course to qualify for the Champions League next season but will have to pick themselves off the floor after a 2-0 loss at Anfield against Paris Saint Germain to exit the competition, losing 4-0 on aggregate.
They also come into this fixture off the back of four defeats in their last five games, conceding 10 goals in that run and scoring only three times.
Their only win during that run came against Fulham, winning 2-0 at home.
Everton may be able to gain confidence going into this game being the home side, as the Reds have lost more games than they have won on their travels away from home this season. They have only won once in their last eight games away against the Toffees.
Everton also head into this fixture with an almost entirely injury free squad. Jack Grealish is the only miss as he recovers from a foot fracture.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, Ekitike’s injury could force him out for at least six months after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Joe Gomez, Allison, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are also out with injuries.
