Rodgers relishing first Merseyside derby

After years of Liverpool reigning as Merseyside's dominant force, it is Everton who goes into the match at Goodison Park with the upper hand as it lies six points ahead of its neighbour in the English Premier League.

The derby will be the 219th competitive meeting and is the first with Rodgers involved, but the explosive nature of the derby is not lost on the former Swansea City manager.

With that in mind, Rodgers called on his players to avoid potential flashpoints and also appealed to referee Andre Marriner to keep a cool head.

"In Liverpool the derby means everything. To the people of this city, football is a way of life. For many, many other cities it is a sport or a pastime," Rodgers said.

"Everton have started well. I've heard and been around the city and there's obviously talk of Everton confident of finishing in the top four.

"I've seen the Merseyside derby over the years and there have been some real firecrackers of games.

"There's a lot of passion and intensity, which there should be because that's what derbies are about.

"But it's also important to stay calm and the referee has a big part to play because history shows a lot of red cards in this game, so I hope that we might get a decision that goes our way for once this weekend."

Rodgers is hopeful that goalkeeper Pepe Reina can overcome a hamstring problem that has kept him out of Liverpool's last two matches.

Everton manager David Moyes is hopeful that Belgium international Marouane Fellaini can overcome a thigh problem, but Darron Gibson is out with a similar injury and Steven Pienaar is suspended.

Moyes has won only four of his 23 derby matches but has seen his team, who finished a place above eighth-placed Liverpool last season, make a blistering start to the campaign.

He maintains the match is about far more than just local pride.

"We didn't beat Liverpool last year and we finished above them in the league so it's a really important three points," he said.

"But it might not make a big difference to the league position come the end of the season.

"The important thing is to see if we can stay up there in a lofty position. We've very rarely been up there at this time of the season."