DAVID MOYES has delivered the first blow ahead of the latest derby by calling for an end to what he sees as referees’ favouritism towards Liverpool.

Everton host Liverpool tonight in the FA Cup fourth round replay, the third meeting with their Merseyside rivals in 16 days. Although Moyes’s side came away from Anfield with a 1-1 draw on both occasions, the manager feels his team has not had the benefit of the doubt with refereeing decisions.

He has accused Liverpool of deliberately trying to get his players booked and was also unhappy that an apparent trip by Alvaro Arbeloa on Steven Pienaar in the first cup game was not rewarded with a penalty.

“I think Liverpool have had an awful lot going for them,” said Moyes.

“We are whole-hearted but when you get players lying on the floor and waving their hands suggesting cards and the referee is missing challenges, it’s very hard.

“But we will keep going. We won’t be provoked by it. The Everton players have done really well. We will be disciplined but, more importantly, we will keep doing what we have been doing. These boys have been very good of late.

“We thought we had a penalty kick (in the tie at Anfield) when Steven Pienaar was tackled from behind. Was it much worse than the one Mikel Arteta gave away at Old Trafford?

“There are moments in games when you think it could have gone for you but it doesn’t and that’s it.”

Moyes is still smarting from a series of decisions by Mark Clattenberg in last season’s league meeting at Goodison, which Liverpool won 2-1 thanks to two Dirk Kuyt penalties.