Daniel: You can feel the energy in the city
Daniel Sturridge may have only played in three Merseyside derbies, but the striker insists he's already developed a love of the feisty fixture.
Three goals in as many Liverpool games against the Blues suggest the forward has every reason to be warming to one of football's most famous battles.
Sturridge, who announced his returned from a five-month injury lay-off by scoring against West Ham United last weekend, netted a crucial equaliser last time the Reds crossed Stanley Park.
Everton were on the brink of what would have been a famous victory until Sturridge, on as a second-half substitute, latched onto Steven Gerrard's cross to flick a late header into the net for 3-3.
At Anfield in January 2014, he struck twice in the space of three minutes to silence the travelling supporters, before missing the chance to seal a hat-trick when he shot a penalty over the bar and into the Kop.
"First and foremost I'm excited," said Sturridge, speaking to BT Sport ahead of today's 224th instalment of the derby at Goodison Park. "It's my favourite game. I love the game.
"The feeling in the city is just completely different when you play in that game, the energy - everything. I'm looking forward to it. In terms of whether I'm going to play or not, that's the manager's decision. I'm ready for it."
Today will be Gerrard's 33rd meeting with the Blues and, barring an all-Merseyside Europa League encounter before the end of the season, it will be the skipper's final derby clash.
Sturridge insists he has nothing but admiration for the captain, who will depart for the United States in the summer, pinpointing Gerrard as the benchmark in terms of role models within the game.
"The way he plays, with his passing, his leadership on the pitch," said the forward. "He can score goals, he can tackle, he can do everything.
"Aside from that there are the leadership qualities in the dressing room and at the training ground.
"There's that respect from every player for what he's done in the game and what he still does. There are not many players out there playing in the game who have achieved what he has."
