If ever Brendan Rodgers wanted to announce his arrival as the Liverpool manager - there is no better place than getting a convincing victory on Sunday at Goodison Park - Everton's home.
The Merseyside Derby throws up all sorts of emotions among fans in Liverpool, with several members of the same family being divided by associations to their favorite clubs. Liverpool have flattered to deceive on several occasions this season, while Everton have been outstanding and look like a real contender for the European places.
Reds manager Rodgers is slowly but surely inculcating his ethos into the team, but the one massive question that remains still hasn't been answered - where will the goals come from?
Liverpool have notched up two 1-0 victories in their previous games - against Reading and Anzhi Makhachkala. Those matches were preceded by a 0-0 draw against Stoke, and with Fabio Borini now ruled out for the next three months - Rodgers has only one senior recognized striker in his ranks in Luis Suarez.
As much as Suarez is a great player - opinions will always be divided on that no doubt - he is not a natural goalscorer. The Uruguayan will never get you 25-30 goals a season year after year, which is why Liverpool are bound to struggle in the long hard toil that is a 38-game English Premier League season.
Everton are eight places above Liverpool in fourth, and have looked like a team to keep an eye on this season. The Toffees, however, have always been considered the underdogs in Merseyside Derbies, but that is something Everton manager David Moyes believes is changing.
"I think we are much closer," he said. "I think we went into the FA Cup semi-final as slight favorites because of our form, it didn't work out that way as we lost the game 2-1 but over my time here I think we have been playing catch-up with Liverpool. We have to say that honestly, that is the case.
"We are trying to get closer and I think we possibly go into this game slightly ahead of Liverpool by what people would think. But we need to prove it, we didn't do it in the game at Wembley so we have to try and do it in this one."
Moyes - easily one of the best managers in the league - has strengthened his team quite well this season with the likes of Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith gelling into the team immediately.
The Toffees showed their resolve when they dug-in and won a point against Queens Park Rangers despite being down to ten men for much of the second half.
"Everton have started well," Rodgers said. "I've heard and been around the city and there's obviously talk of Everton confident of finishing in the top four. So they obviously feel that they have the quality and the experience to go and do that. For us it's about taking it game by game. We'll look to improve and we are improving at the moment.
"The players have a real strong mentality and the nature of our game is becoming very good. Our possession is controlled possession. We are dominating games, creating chances and we are learning to defend better with the ball."
Liverpool have kept possession well, indeed, but the end product that is so important - something that Arsenal will attest to - has been entirely lacking. There is no point in having 90 percent of the possession, if the opposition scores in the 10 percent possession that they have.
That will be something that Rodgers will be well aware of and the former Swansea manager will look to a couple of his youngsters to inject his side with the pace and verve that is needed. Raheem Sterling has arguably been Liverpool's best player this season and the 17-year-old will look to etch his name in the record books by scoring in the Derby.
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina will be assessed before the game to see if he is fit, with Rodgers equally happy to keep the faith in back-up Brad Jones.
Everton have received a fillip with the return of their best player this season -- Marouane Fellaini -- to training, and the Belgian midfielder is expected to be in the squad for the game, even if he might not start, but Steven Pienaar is suspended after being sent-off against QPR. Tony hibbert, however, might also make a return, although former Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson is still unavailable.
Expected lineups: Everton: Howard, Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Coleman, Neville, Osman, Naismith, Mirallas, Jelavic, Anichebe.
Liverpool: Reina, Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Allen, Sahin, Gerrard, Downing, Sterling, Suarez.
Prediction: 1-1
