Soccer Saturday pundit Phil Thompson previews Wednesday's Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield.
What are your favourite memories from playing in the derby?
"Without a doubt beating Everton 5-0 at Goodison Park. Ian Rush scored four, and not too many people remember it but Mark Lawrenson scored the other! He was playing in midfield that day. Along with beating them in the FA Cup final, that is my greatest memory of my own personal involvement with the derby."
How has the game changed over the years?
"The derby, from it being the friendly derby, has become the bitter derby. I think both sides seem to have a dislike for each other, more than what it was back in the day. We knew you had your divided loyalties but everybody was friends after it. Liverpudlian’s would go in the Everton pubs and what not and mix around with each other and vice versa, but now there is a divide and it has become the bitter derby."
Is there a danger of Liverpool being too complacent?
"That is my worry. It is imperative that Liverpool get up for this game. Every other side has been up for every Liverpool game and seem to play their best football at Anfield, as Brighton did on Saturday. They seem to be doing enough to win despite not getting out of second gear.
"It is imperative that they are raring to go. Like myself or every other Liverpool fan, they will not want their unbeaten run to come to an end against Everton, and especially because of their attitude towards the clash."
Is this game not Everton’s cup final?
"It is their cup final. Evertonians are going into this one fearful, and they are worried that it could be a heavy defeat.
"It makes every Liverpudlian more fearful because of the expectation. For Everton fans, it will be their cup final but it has been so long since they have won a derby game. I am not going to begin to imagine if there was a reverse of the scoreline."
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Everton (13/2 with Sky Bet)
"You can never predict the Merseyside derbies. It was very much a 0-0 until the Jordan Pickford mistake, allowing Divock Origi to score one of the strangest goals of the season.
"Everton, more than Liverpool, are turning up for it at the moment, and Liverpool have to be careful how they approach it. It is important that Jordan Henderson and James Milner, as well as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez - the local and British players - understand how vital this is. I know a lot of the Liverpool players have played in a derby before, but they need to make sure that they are up for the game.
"As much as all of the drama about Everton and the position of the manager is ongoing, I thought they were unfortunate to lose the game against Leicester, especially with such a good performance in the first half - they were the better team for the first 45 minutes.
"I think Liverpool will have too much for them in this one though, and I am certainly hoping this is the case!"
Odds correct as of 1600 GMT on 03/12/19
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