Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool are embracing the tag of favourites ahead of their Merseyside derby at Everton on Sunday.
Liverpool have struggled early in 2015-16, as evidenced by their disappointing 1-1 draw with Sion in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, but a 3-2 victory at home to Aston Villa last Saturday ended a run of four Barclays Premier League matches without a win.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez suggested on Friday that Liverpool’s transfer expenditure over recent seasons makes them favourites to win at Goodison Park.
And Rodgers was happy for his side to take on that mantle.
“We will always take the favourites tag,” Rodgers said. “At Liverpool that’s what you want. We’re happy to take the favourites tag. We are Liverpool and we expect to work like that.
“There’s no advantage or disadvantage to being favourites. It shows that we are a big club and people look to us to take the initiative.
“Every game we go into, the level of the opponents goes up, because of the nature of the club we are.
“It shows the club we are at, the level of expectancy as opposed to other clubs. We have to live with that, we are expected to do well, and it’s about helping the team evolve and deal with that expectancy.”
Everton, with three wins from their last four matches in all competitions, are in better form and at home, but have not tasted Merseyside derby success since October 2010.
They came from two goals down to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2 at The Hawthorns last Monday, but Martinez is having to contend with a lengthy injury list.
While Seamus Coleman and John Stones could return from hamstring and knee injuries respectively, Muhamed Besic (hamstring), Tom Cleverley (ankle/foot), Leighton Baines (ankle/foot), Tony Hibbert (knee) and Steven Pienaar (hamstring) are all out.
For Liverpool, Dejan Lovren (ankle), Roberto Firmino (back) and captain Jordan Henderson (foot) are all sidelined.
Centre-forward Christian Benteke, meanwhile, faces a fitness test to determine his availability as he seeks to return from a hamstring injury.
His fellow striker Daniel Sturridge started and scored twice in the win over Villa and is set to continue up front at Goodison Park.
Everton (from): Howard, Joel, Stanek, Browning, Coleman, Funes Mori, Galloway, Holgate, Jagielka, Oviedo, Stones, Barkley, Barry, Gibson, Lennon, McCarthy, McGeady, Mirallas, Osman, Deulofeu, Kone, Lukaku, Naismith, Rodriguez.
Liverpool (from): Bogdan, Mignolet, Clyne, Jose Enrique, Gomez, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Allen, Can, Coutinho, Ibe, Lallana, Lucas, Milner, Rossiter, Teixeira, Benteke, Ings, Origi, Sturridge.
Match Appointments
Referee: Martin Atkinson Assistants: M Mullarkey, S Child Fourth Official: C Pawson
Match Facts
Everton have gone nine league matches without a victory against their neighbours Liverpool. They have not gone 10 without a victory against the Reds since 1984 (a run of 11 matches).
Liverpool have lost just one of their last eight BPL matches at Goodison Park, losing 2-0 in October 2010. The last three have ended in draws.
This fixture has seen the most red cards shown in Barclays Premier League history (20); four more than any other match in the competition.
Daniel Sturridge has scored five times against Everton in the league. The only club he has more league goals against is Newcastle United (6).
source:premierleague.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 