Liverpool v Everton: Peter Crouch on standby for LFC

Mar 29 2008

THE Merseyside derby may be a parochial affair, but when Liverpool and Everton collide at Anfield tomorrow both sides will have Europe on their minds.

As if winning local pride and claiming workplace bragging rights for their fans was not a big enough incentive for Liverpool to emerge triumphant, there is also the not insignificant matter of a place in next season's Champions League at stake.

The battle for that all important fourth spot has captivated football fans on Merseyside for the bulk of this season and the outcome of the 207th meeting between Liverpool and Everton could go a long way towards deciding which of the local rivals will be eating at Europe's top tables in 2008/09 – and which will be left to pick up the scraps in the UEFA Cup.

A win for Liverpool would put them five points clear of David Moyes’ side with just six games left to play and although a draw would maintain their current two point advantage, Rafa Benitez is interested only in looking to secure what would be a vital victory.

"We know that a win would take us five points ahead and that would be a good advantage to have at this stage of the season,” he said.

"Derby matches are always difficult games. It doesn't matter if one team is playing really well and the other is playing badly, but we will be looking to win.

"We are playing Everton at Anfield so the only thing we will have in our heads is winning."

Last week's 3-0 defeat against Manchester United brought to an end a run of seven successive wins for Liverpool and Benitez believes the visit of another of the Reds’ most fierce rivals gives them the perfect opportunity to get back on track.

"Everybody was really disappointed after the United game," he said.

"The players tried hard but we made some mistakes. But we cannot think about this when we are going into a derby. The important thing is to forget that game.

"A derby match is an opportunity for us to change things. We know that we must really concentrate because we know it will be a really tough game.

"I think some players know that they did not play at the same level they were playing at before, but it can be different against Everton and I am sure that the players will try to do the right things."

With Javier Mascherano missing out through suspension, Benitez has the option of offering a recall to Brazilian midfielder Lucas, who made a telling contribution to this season's Goodison derby when his goal-bound effort was handled by Phil Neville and Dirk Kuyt scored the resultant penalty.

But in Mascherano's absence the Reds boss is also weighing up ditching the 4-2-3-1 system which has served Liverpool so well in recent weeks and reverting to a more orthodox 4-4-2, with Peter Crouch partnering Fernando Torres in attack.

The difficulty Everton had in dealing with the threat of West Ham's Dean Ashton last weekend has not gone unnoticed at Anfield and, if recalled, Crouch would be asked to give the Blues’ back line similar problems.

Having returned to full fitness and impressed in training following an ankle injury, Andriy Voronin also has an outside chance of starting the game alongside Torres, who is fully fit despite speculation to the contrary in sections of the media.

Benitez said: "We are looking at our options because we are without Javier.

"Lucas is a young player who can be an option, but there is also Crouch and Voronin who have both been training well.

"It is a blow to be without Mascherano because he has been playing very well, but I am sure we will be able to choose a very good player to take his place."

Whichever way the result goes tomorrow, Benitez does not believe it will be conclusive in the race for fourth.

However, he does admit it is likely to have a major bearing on where the two Merseyside clubs finish in the Premiership table come May.

He said: "It is a very big game for both clubs, firstly because we are local rivals and there is a lot of pride at stake, but also because we are both looking to get fourth position.

"Everton have won a lot of games this season and are near the top of the table so we know that they are having a good season.

"We need to look to play well and I am sure it will be an exciting spectacle for everyone.

"But even if we do win I do not think it will mean that the battle for fourth place is over because we will have to go on and win more games in a row.

"There is a lot of football still to be played after the derby so although a win would be very important it would not be decisive."

Since the Premier League was formed in 1992, Liverpool and Everton have only entered the latter stages of a season with the same final objective on one other occasion.

That came in 2005 when the red half of the city celebrated an Anfield derby win in March, only for the blue half to take that all important fourth spot two months later, proving that it is one thing to win the battle but quite another to win the war.

Liverpool go in search of another victory tomorrow and this time they will be hoping it will be the springboard for them to go on and enjoy the spoils of war provided by a place in Europe's most lucrative competition.