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What is common to Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Leon Osman, Gary Ablett and Jose Baxter? The string that binds them all together is that they represented a Merseyside club though they were boyhood supporters of their cross ‘road' rivals! Stanley Park is what divides Anfield and Goodison Park and this proximity between the two clubs has led to a lot of mixing between the two set of supporters. Bragging rights will be up for grabs when Liverpool take on Everton at Goodison Park in the first of the two Merseyside derby games of the Premiership. The fixtures are often referred to as "The Friendly Derby" considering that even within the same families you can find both Everton and Liverpool supporte rs. That does not stop these two clubs from going at each other with all they have got and that is exactly what they will do on Sunday!

Both the Merseyside clubs have looked out of sorts this season, however, Liverpool have been hit worse than their local rivals in this campaign. The Reds are already out of the Champions League and will be mixing it up with the second stringers of the continent in the new Europa League. Their Premier league campaign has been disappointing so far and if their current form continues they are certain to lose their top four spot. They barely look like the same side who finished their previous campaign, rather unfortunately, in second place. They have been badly hit by injuries and talismanic striker Fernando Torres is unlikely to feature in the Merseyside derby owing to a recurring groin injury. Torres has been brilliant for Liverpool so far this season and has recently won the Barclays Golden Boot '10-goal' Landmark Award for being the first in the Barclays Premier League to hit double figures this season. In his absence David N'Gog, who has deputized well so far grabbing 5 goals already this season, will lead the attack. Alberto Aquilani famously known as "Il Principino" meaning "The Little Prince" could possibly make his Merseyside debut and is expected to be subbed in.

Everton meanwhile have tasted back to back defeats in the League conceding three goals against Manchester United last weekend and against Hull City in their mid-week fixture. David Moyes has come out and stated that he is unwilling to blame the current injuries to his squad for the team's poor showing and has called for the players to raise their performances. It seems like nothing is going Everton's way as their plans of a new stadium at Kirkby has been rejected and their Chief Exec Robert Elstone has said that they would need to consider a ground sharing option with their city rivals if it will prove to be profitable for the clubs involved. If this does materialize, they will join AC Milan - Internazionale and Bayern Munich - 1860 Munich in a group of clubs which share their ground with their local rivals.

Everton have had their share of injuries and a poor run of form too and will look to kick start their season against the Reds. They will welcome back Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Marouane Fellaini to the starting line up on Sunday. Local lad Jack Rodwell, who limped off against Hull City, is the most recent addition to a long list of Everton players including Phil Jagielka and Phil Neville who are out due to injury.

The clubs go into the 212th Merseyside Derby with a poor run of games at their back. Both the sides seem to be sorely missing their respective Spanish creative forces, Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta. Such is the void caused by the loss of Alonso to Real Madrid that Liverpool fans world over have voted Arteta as the one Everton player they would love to see in a Red shirt on the official website. Arteta is yet to feature for Everton this season, and the Blues seem to lack any creative spark going forward. With so many players in and out of the side this season for Everton, it is quite reasonable to assume that David Moyes is yet to figure out his best 11 and more importantly how to line them up without getting in each other's way.

Current form

Liverpool (W-1, D-3, L-1)
Debrecen 0 - 1 Liverpool (N'Gog)
Liverpool 2 - 2 Manchester City (Skrtel, Benayoun)
Liverpool 2 - 2 Birmingham City (N'Gog, Gerrard)
Lyon 1 - 1 Liverpool (Babel)
Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool (Torres)

Everton (W-1, D-1, L-3)
Hull City 3 - 2 Everton (Zayatte o.g, Saha)
Manchester United 3 - 0 Everton
West Ham 1 - 2 Everton (Saha, Gosling)
Everton 0 - 2 Benfica
Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa (Bilyaletdinov)

The two teams come into this game with virtually no form at all, with Liverpool having won just twice in their last eleven games and Everton just once in the last ten. Games between these two sides have been very tight of late with Everton winning their previous meeting an FA Cup 4th Round replay at Goodison Park 1-0 thanks to a Dan Gosling strike after the first leg had finished 1-1. Their last meeting in the League at Goodison Park was a 2-0 win for Liverpool, with Everton finishing the game with 10 men with Australian star Tim Cahill heading for an early shower.

With their season almost reduced to playing in the Europa league and a fight for a 4th place finish at hand, Liverpool will look to salvage some pride in this game. Everton too will be desperate for a win and whatever better way to silence some dissenting voices than by beating your biggest rivals. This contest is definitely going to have an electrifying and hostile atmosphere, and both teams will be like wounded gladiators looking to prove a point.

Likely Teams:

The Reds: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Gerrard, Aurelio, Kuyt, N'Gog
The Blues: Howard, Neil, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Fellaini, Cahill, Heitinga, Piennar, Saha, Bilyaletdinov

Players to Watch

Liverpool
Gerrard: With ‘El Nino' ruled out, the Reds will look to their skipper to provide some inspiration
N'Gog: The kid has really come of age and deputized well in the absence of Torres and this game will prove to be a stern test for him

Everton
Saha: If Everton have to win, Saha will need to be on top of his game
Heitinga: He would be entrusted with the job of keeping Stevie G quite and that's a big task at hand for the Dutch veteran.

Prediction: Everton 1 (Saha) - 2 Liverpool (N'Gog, Gerrard)

File Photograph Copyright: Nigel Wilson