BR: Derby win would be psychological

The fourth-place Reds welcome their neighbours to Anfield for a crucial Barclays Premier League clash, with two positions and a single point separating the eternal rivals after 22 games played.

Each club has received regular plaudits throughout the campaign for their respective styles of play, which married to produce a modern classic in a dramatic 3-3 at Goodison Park last November.

Therefore, if his team can grasp the opportunity to consolidate their top-four spot and edge four points ahead of Roberto Martinez's outfit, Rodgers believes such an outcome could prove crucial as the run-in approaches.

"It would be a big psychological boost, because it means they have then got to have a couple of results better than us," the boss told Liverpoolfc.com. "As the games tick away, that can be difficult to attain.

"It's going to be a tough game - two teams that have been up there. We've been in that top four more or less all of the season. We aim to stay there and, in order to do that, you've got to win as many of your home games as possible.

"This year, we have been brilliant - we've won nine out of the 11, only losing one and drawing one. We aim to make that 10 tonight.

"I just want the three points for the supporters and the players. It's bragging rights for the locals. We're at home and we're confident when we play at home.

"It's not for me and my CV; it's for the team and for our ambitions for this season. If we get the three points, we go four points clear [of Everton] and with a better goal difference.

"At this part of the season, that can be a lot. It's important for those factors, other than any personal achievement for myself.

"With both teams set up to go and impose their style of play on the opponent, and when you have two managers with philosophies that are quite the same, then of course it opens the pitch up a little bit more.

"But it is important in these games that you've got to be tactically good as well. Everton are coming here and over the last few seasons, and they have maintained it this year, they have got good defensive solidity in their team.

"Whereas we're a team that is second-to-none in terms of goalscoring ability. We have won nine games here, drawn one and only lost one; that shows that we enjoy and love playing at Anfield. That will hopefully be produced on the field on Tuesday evening."

Watch the video here »

Liverpool twice took the lead when they crossed Stanley Park earlier in the season, but a second-half brace from the powerful Romelu Lukaku seemed to have handed the hosts the bragging rights.

However, substitute Daniel Sturridge leaped highest from a precise Steven Gerrard set-piece to plant a header into the top corner, salvage a point and maintain Rodgers' unbeaten record in the derby to date.

As you would expect, the high-octane clash was not a comfortable watch for the manager; how, then, will the 41-year-old attempt to grapple control of the return fixture out of the visitors' hands?

He continued: "It's trying to be as defensively solid as possible, which is important. We know we can score goals. If we can cut out individual mistakes, that hasn't helped us in some of these games.

"The 0-0 game here [last season] wasn't a great game in all fairness, there was a lot of tension in the game. You have to try to have that composure, and of course it is difficult to have.

"But trust your ability and focus on the performance level. If you overthink about the result, it can lead to anxiety and lead to many mistakes.

"It's so important that you think of the performance - the technical and tactical qualities you need out of the game. It's a physical game.

"You put all of that together and then hopefully, mentally, you arrive into the game with composure and a focus on your individual performance.

"It's very difficult, because you go into the match with a game-plan in order, tactically, to set up your team.

"But you sometimes see the inhibitions of the players just got left, they chase the game with the momentum and the crowd, depending on the state of the game.

"If you're behind in the game, the tactic is totally different to if you're entering into the last 10 minutes and you're winning the game. The first game this season was a little bit like a basketball game towards the end, where it was a game of transition with both teams up and down the field.

"That's not really what you want as a coach, but sometimes that naturally happens in football. What you've got to do is make sure you control as much of that momentum as possible.

"It was just the nature of the game, and it's the nature of such a massive derby game.

"You go into the game with the intention to control and dominate the game with the ball, and to be really solid and compact defensively. But sometimes there are a number of things you can't control - mistakes and whatnot.

"We're at home, we want to have that bit more control of the game of course. Hopefully that will lead us to securing the three points."

[OTPA_WIDGET_CONTENT]

The boss will be unable to call on the services of defender Mamadou Sakho to face Everton, but midfielder Joe Allen will be assessed before Rodgers decides on his starting XI on home soil.

Despite the extensive injury list currently, and the fact that Tuesday's match follows so quickly after the FA Cup win over Bournemouth at the weekend, the manager has no qualms about the fitness of the players that are available.

"Straight after the game, the players are refuelling and taking in all of the nutritional needs that allow them to recover straight away after the game," he explained.

"We were back in again on Sunday morning; the players recover and get a massage, they are in the swimming pool. Straight after the game, the players are in the ice bath and making sure they are recovering well.

"Then we have a training group that are training alongside that. We're training later on Monday evening; that gives the players the maximum recovery time in order to be at their best on Tuesday.

"Once we arrive at kick-off time, that will be into the third day. Then the commitment and motivation of the player will then be put out onto the field again and I'm sure we'll see another good performance."

With no European football on the agenda for Liverpool during 2013-14, midweek fixtures under the Anfield floodlights have been a rare pleasure for Kopites so far this season.

A special atmosphere is guaranteed when the Blues cross town, though, and Rodgers emphasised the significant role the home supporters can play in affecting the final result.

He said: "The evening games here are brilliant. The times I have experienced here, the supporters really come out in voice for the evening games. It being a derby game makes it even more special.

"Our support that we've had here has been a huge part of us getting the success we've had at Anfield over the course of the last year or so.

"We really need them again tonight; it's going to be a tough and tight game. We really need them to get behind the players and get behind the way we're trying to work and the way of our football.

"If we have to play backwards or sidewards to go forward, it's always in order to get a goal. We might have periods of possession - that's going to be important for us.

"We need everyone to be attuned and understand what it is we're trying to do in order to score goals."