The tough defender has helped to mastermind nine hours without conceding a goal in a six-match unbeaten run which has seen the Toffees cement their place firmly in the Barclays Premier League top six.

Now Everton's streetwise stars turn their collective attentions to the January 19 league trip to Anfield and then the following Sunday's FA Cup fourth round, also at the home of their Merseyside rivals.

And Jagielka insisted - as if Liverpool did not know already - that Everton are in their meanest mood.

The 2-0 victory over a disappointing Hull on Saturday, with goals from Marouane Fellaini and Mikel Arteta, firmly entrenched Everton in sixth spot and even at this early stage they look a very decent bet for European qualification.

All that makes Everton a more relaxed and very dangerous animal in these two derby clashes. Liverpool, in their increasingly bitter war with Manchester United and Chelsea, have so much more to lose from games that are notoriously hard to predict and always ferocious contests.

And Jagielka cannot wait for battle to commence.

"A few months ago we couldn't buy a clean sheet, but now we have started to defend really well and it's six games without us conceding now," he said.

"We are performing well, getting the lead and then seeing out games with the way we are playing at the back. It is certainly the right form to be in going into two games with Liverpool next.

"But Hull were tough. They are new to the division but they made us work as hard as any team I have played against, they didn't have that many chances though but we had to work for the win."

The downside for Everton is that Fellaini's 10th booking of the season rules him out of both Liverpool clashes, and further stretches boss David Moyes' injury-hit squad.

Jagielka said: "The shame is that Fellaini got booked and is now banned from the two derbies. We all knew he was on a tightrope, but he was always likely to get booked over the next few games so he would have missed a couple of games anyway.

"But we are not happy with the free-kick given against him that caused that latest booking. It was a bit pathetic really, to get booked for something like that, he took the ball and their lad (Michael Turner) ducked really low.

"But we have to get on with it now without him for both the Liverpool games."

He added: "But the clean sheet pleases us most. When we get ahead now we look very solid, and you would be crazy in that position not to put money on us to see games out and take the points.

"Now we are looking forward to the two derbies. We lost at home to them earlier in the season when we were not at our best and they were flying, but we are a lot better now.

"It is always tough at Anfield and they are brimming with confidence and flying high, but they will be two very interesting games and we are confident we can upset them.

"We are coming into these games with a run of six clean sheets and a decent set of victories, and it is always nice to go into derby games full of confidence.

"They know we are playing well. Maybe people will not give us much chance in either match, but we will be confident of achieving something."

Hull boss Phil Brown was disappointed with his team, and the decision by referee Martin Atkinson to allow Fellaini's opener with the Belgian clearly offside.

Brown said: "We suffered because of a poor decision in the first half to allow their first goal. If the linesman had done his job properly that would not have counted and we would still have been in the game.

"It was miles offside, how the linesman can miss it I just do not know.

"I spoke to the referee afterwards, and the linesman was sitting in the corner ignoring the conversation as if he was exempt from the blame.

"I know our form is now not that good, one win in 12, but I am not looking over my shoulder and worrying.

"The Premier League has changed. In previous seasons it has been three divisions in one, now it is just two. The top six are out on their own and the bottom 14 are all fighting for survival."