Season › 2013-14 › News Everton vs Liverpool Lyndon Lloyd , 22 November, 0comments | Jump to most recent Match Preview Everton will be looking for a new derby hero this weekend The first Merseyside derby of the Roberto Martinez era arrives this weekend and with it comes the usual anticipation and dread as bragging rights for the next few months are on the line. The presence of a new man in the Goodison dugout plotting Liverpool's downfall makes for an added dimension this time around, though, particularly given the inferiority complex Everton appeared to develop against the Reds under Martinez's predecessor. Despite facing some of the worst Liverpool teams in living memory, David Moyes only managed to beat Liverpool three times in the League over the course of his tenure and Martinez faces an altogether more threatening opposition for his derby debut. Backed by the goalscoring potency of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, Brendan Rogers's side made a good start to the season and sit in second place, three points above the Blues coming into this game. Martinez will know that his team should, at the very least, be right up alongside Liverpool — if not higher — but two successive goalless draws, the second a limp offensive display against Crystal Palace last time out, stymied their hopes of sitting behind leaders Arsenal coming into this weekend's all-Merseyside showdown. The Spaniard's task is an obvious one: get Everton's attacking machine creating chances and scoring goals again, while preserving the defensive resilience that has them approaching six hours of football now without conceding a goal. The latter challenge may be eased if Sturridge is ruled out with a dead leg as he and Suarez have struck up a good partnership since the Uruguayan deception artist returned from his lengthy ban this season. Though the back pairing of Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin can boast that impressive defensive record thus far, it's fair to say the Blues rode their luck a little against Palace a fortnight ago and they are yet to look fully comfortable with the Martinez mandate to pass their way out from the back. It's in the forward areas where things have gone a little off the boil lately and Everton's chances will likely rest on greater link-up and a deeper understanding between Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas... although many will argue that the return to the starting XI of Ross Barkley could be just as important. Though the teenager wasn't able to rouse Everton from their attacking torpor at Selhurst Park after coming on as a second-half substitute, Martinez's side have looked more dangerous with his precocious forward intent than without this season. There is a chance that Gerard Deulofeu could be involved from the start, although, irrespective of Martinez's hints in the build-up, it would seem to be a slim one given that the Barcelona teenager has yet to start a Premier League game. More likely, it will be Mirallas deployed in his usual wide-right role, with Deulofeu waiting in the wings to perhaps come on and affect proceedings later in the game. Like the Chelsea and Tottenham games before it, this derby clash offers Everton the chance to make a statement against a media-darling outfit that has, thus far at least, signalled its own intent to challenge for the European places this season. As painful as it is to acknowledge, Rogers has bought well and seems to now have a settled team that can score goals at will. There's also the added incentive that six of the top eight teams play each other this weekend which would make a win all the more precious. More than merely beating a rival for the top four, of course, victory this weekend for the Blues could have enormous psychological ramifications given what has transpired in derby games over the past four seasons — including, of course, the calamity in the semi-final at Wembley. As ever, a key to success will be rising above the fray, particularly in midfield, and resisting the temptation to turn the game into a fractious free-for-all. Given that both managers have placed an emphasis on passing football, that could be more possible than is usually the case on these types of occasions but it is imperative that Everton take early command and dictate the game on their terms. And, of course, give Lukaku the ammunition to bury the old enemy. Kick off: 12:45pm Referee: Phil Dowd Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Reports Live Matchday Forum Global TV Betting Preview: Everton v Liverpool About these ads © ToffeeWeb