Back in October Liverpool won 2-1 as the Toffees finished with nine men at Goodison Park, although that did not tell the whole story.

The visitors came from behind thanks to two penalties from Dirk Kuyt but Everton felt they should have had one of their own late on when Jamie Carragher appeared to pull down Joleon Lescott in the box.

Manager David Moyes said although the squad felt they owed their nearest neighbours, revenge was not the primary motivation.

"Football doesn't quite work like that because it is another game and it moves on," said the Everton boss, who is still looking for his first victory at Anfield.

"You are not thinking about what you have done before or what has happened, you take the next game as it comes.

"I don't really see it as a revenge mission in any way. It would be nice to avenge the result and get a positive result but that is the only way I'd be looking at it."

Although their previous meeting was not a typical derby encounter, it followed a familiar pattern in that the match did not finish with a full complement of players.

In the last six meetings of the Merseysiders there have been seven sendings-off and more red cards (16) have been issued in Premier League matches between Liverpool and Everton than any other clash between top-flight sides.

However, Moyes is confident he will have no problems with his players tomorrow.

"In general this season our disciplinary record has been excellent," he said.

"I think the sendings-off (of Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville back in October) were both correct.

"The players conduct themselves well and we have improved no end from where we have been so we don't have a problem with that at all.

"You just need to give them clear instructions in what we want and then after that you just need them to be adaptable and understand how the game's going and what they need to do."

Liverpool have disciplinary problems of their own as midfielder Javier Mascherano is suspended for the derby after his dismissal against Manchester United last weekend.

The Argentina midfielder has been one of their most consistent performers this season but Moyes does not believe his absence will present much of an opening for his side.

"They will put some strong players in that position. That is why they are a good side because they have a strong squad," the Toffees boss added.

"I think Liverpool are able to cope, that is why they have the players they have got."

Victory for Everton tomorrow would take them above their fourth-placed neighbours and into the Champions League reckoning.

It will be a tough task though as Everton have not won at Anfield since Kevin Campbell's solitary strike back in 1999.

But Moyes believes his side can match Liverpool in all areas apart from one - money.

"It means it is due to happen soon doesn't it," he said, referring to the club's barren spell at their rivals across Stanley Park.

"Derbies don't always go to plan, who knows how it will go?

"The difference between the clubs is very small now; we are on Liverpool's shoulder but financially the difference is vast.

"That is the bit where we don't spend in the same sort of league as Liverpool do.

"But I think if you'd said to our fans at the start of the season would you take fifth or sixth and get back in the UEFA Cup I think they would have said 'very good'."

Midfielder Tim Cahill has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken foot but striker Andrew Johnson has recovered from the groin injury which kept him out of last weekend's 1-1 draw with West Ham and is set to play at Anfield.

Defender Joseph Yobo has shaken off an ankle problem while Steven Pienaar is well again after a bout of sickness.