Stevie set to equal Carra's record

That figure will put Gerrard together with Carragher as joint-third highest on the list of derby league games played, behind Neville Southall (31) and Ian Callaghan (28).

The skipper could become only the seventh Liverpool player (and the 11th in total from both clubs) to appear in 30 Merseyside derbies.

The No.8 has lost just five of his 29 derbies against Everton in all competitions, and four in 26 in the league.

The inspirational midfielder has scored eight goals in 29 appearances against Everton - only three men have ever scored more in derby history. Ian Rush, with 25, has scored most, followed by Blues legends Dixie Dean (19) and Sandy Young (12).

Daniel Sturridge has scored three career goals against the Blues. He scored for Bolton in February 2011 and in October of that year for Chelsea - both in the league. He has also scored at Goodison in the League Cup and was on the winning team each time.

Today will mark the 189th league meeting, with the Reds having won 72 to the Blues' 57. It is the most played derby in English league football.

Should Liverpool win, they will have won as many games at Goodison against Everton in all competitions as they have lost - 40-40.

Last season at Goodison Park, the sides drew 2-2. The Reds led 2-0 inside 20 minutes with goals from Leighton Baines (own goal) and Luis Suarez. Everton equalised before half-time through Leon Osman and Steven Naismith.

This was followed by a goalless draw at Anfield towards the end of the season.

Liverpool have scored more derby goals in the Premier League at Goodison than they have against the Blues at Anfield - 27 against 26.

Possible derby debutants for Liverpool include Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto, Victor Moses, Mamadou Sakho, Aly Cissokho and Simon Mignolet.

Liverpool go into this game 11 points better off than they were after 11 games of last season. It is their best start to a Premier League campaign for five seasons.

The Reds have won all eight games this season in league and cup in which they have scored the first goal.

Liverpool have lost just two of their last 19 league games.

Brendan Rodgers has yet to manage a team to victory over Everton in four attempts. He lost both games while in charge of Swansea, while Liverpool drew both games with the Blues last season.

This will be Rodgers' 50th league game in charge of the Reds. His record stands at 23 wins, 15 draws and 11 defeats - with a win ratio of 47 per cent.

Glen Johnson is in line to play his 150th game for Liverpool in all competitions.

Suarez has scored 20 goals in his last 21 league appearances for Liverpool and eight in six this season.

He and Sturridge have scored 16 league goals between them this season. Only four teams in the Premier League (Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United) have scored more in total.

26 players have been sent off in Merseyside derby history - nine from Liverpool and 17 Everton players. Only five players had been dismissed in the first 88 years of combat. Four of Liverpool's red cards have come in games they have ultimately won.

20 of those red cards have come in the 42 Premier League meetings between the clubs, with 11 men being sent off in the last 17 clashes.

The last player to be sent off was Jack Rodwell at Goodison in October 2011, though that was later rescinded. That is the only sending-off in the last seven meetings in league and cup.

Everton have had eight players sent off in the last 11 league meetings at Goodison.

Liverpool, with 61, have scored more league goals in the calendar year, 2013, than any other top-flight team.

Last season, Everton finished above Liverpool for a second successive campaign for the first time since 1936-37. The last time they achieved it three times in a row was 1933-34.

Roberto Martinez has managed against Liverpool eight times in his career, winning twice.

This is Roberto's 12th league game in charge of Everton. His 12th top-flight game of last season as Wigan boss saw the Latics lose 3-0 to Liverpool.

Everton have been awarded seven penalties in post-war league derbies, with five being scored and two missed. Liverpool during the same period have scored 11 of their 15.

All of Everton's nine Premier League victories over Liverpool have come in the first fixture of the season.

Everton are unbeaten in the calendar year at Goodison in the Premier League, a run stretching to 14 games, of which they have won 10 and drawn four. In that time they have conceded just eight goals and kept nine clean sheets.

They have been beaten only once in 28 home league games - to Chelsea on December 30 last year, when Frank Lampard scored both in a 2-1 win after the Londoners had trailed to a Steven Pienaar goal.

At Goodison this season the Blues have beaten Chelsea, Newcastle and Hull and have drawn 0-0 with West Brom and Tottenham.

The Blues have lost just once in 11 league games this season. They went down 3-1 at Manchester City on October 5, despite taking the lead through Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku scored against Liverpool for West Brom in both league games last season and was on the winning side in each.

Phil Dowd will take charge of his fourth Merseyside derby. Liverpool have won two and drawn one of the previous three - all at Anfield. The last saw Gerrard score a hat-trick in March 2012.