Everton v Liverpool preview

Moyes: Decision to make on Anichebe

Related links

Teams

• Everton
• Liverpool

Also see

• Football on Sky
• Sky Sports experts
• Super 6: Win £100k

Everton and Liverpool meet for the fourth time this season as the Merseyside rivals battle to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup.

The two North-West neighbours could not be separated in the original fixture of this fourth-round tie, drawing 1-1 on 25th January, and they require a replay at Goodison Park.

Liverpool have already returned from the short trip across Stanley Park with three Premier League points this season, but Everton have held the Reds to draws on two occasions at Anfield.

The 211th Merseyside derby is, therefore, tantalisingly poised and extra-time, and even penalties, could be required, with a definite opponent for either Aston Villa or Doncaster set to be established.

Drama is never far away in these fixtures and the last time the two sides met in an FA Cup tie provides perfect evidence as a 1991 fifth-round meeting took three matches to resolve, while former Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish famously resigned between the first and second matches.

Controversial

Neither manager is likely to quit following Wednesday night's result, but Everton boss David Moyes is in the more comfortable position as Rafa Benitez's contract debate rumbles on and the Liverpool chief is preparing for his first game since controversially selling Robbie Keane back to Tottenham.

Moyes, though, could have to make a decision on whether to play forward Victor Anichebe after the Nigeria international was reportedly thrown out of training following a bust-up with his manager.

Everton already have attacking problems and Moyes is not spoilt for choice for possible replacements for Anichebe, with Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Louis Saha and James Vaughan injured and new loan signing Jo cup tied.

Liverpool will definitely be without defender Philipp Degen, who has been ruled out for a number of weeks with a metatarsal injury, but the Switzerland international was unlikely to feature.

Fernando Torres should keep a place in attack following his match-winning brace against Chelsea on Sunday, while Steven Gerrard is set to continue as captain as Benitez has no other new fitness problems.