Liverpool make the short trip across Stanley Park to face Merseyside rivals Everton tonight (Wednesday, December 1).
The Reds are enjoying a superb run of form following the most recent international break and are seemingly scoring goals at will.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have already amassed 39 Premier League goals this season – eight more than their nearest competitors Chelsea.
By contrast, the Blue side of the city are enduring a wretched run of form and ex-Kop boss Rafa Benitez is under pressure to turn the tide.
Writing in his regular BBC Sport prediction column, former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson backed the Reds to be too strong for their derby foes.
This was the game where Virgil van Dijk got injured last season so if it is possible to have any more spice than a normal derby, Wednesday night will be it. However you look at the game, Liverpool have to be favourites. Everton have not won since the end of September and when I watched them against Brentford on Sunday, they never ever really looked like scoring. The Bees could even have won by another goal or two. Quite often going into these derby games, I think it doesn’t matter whether teams are at the top or bottom of the table because they feel so different but, this time, the sheer quality of Liverpool means I cannot see them creating chances without taking some of them.
Lawrenson tipped Klopp’s side to prevail 2-0 at Goodison Park.
Liverpool will be without Roberto Firmino, Joe Gomez and Naby Keita for the clash. Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott also remain sidelined whilst both are edging closer to a return.
READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT
Regardless of form, this is a Merseyside derby.
Although in theory, it is just another game and recent events should have an impact, all of that tends to go out of the window.
Kopites will be hoping this one does go to plan however and the likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota enjoy themselves across the park.
