Reds seek derby double in bid for top four

Liverpool extended their unbeaten league run to six games with a 2-0 defeat of Bolton

Liverpool are aiming for a second win over rivals Everton
this weekend as their attempt to retain a place in the top
four gathers pace. The 2-0 victory at Goodison Park in
November failed to spark Liverpool’s season, just as the
victory over Manchester United had proved a false dawn a
month earlier.

Recent results have improved, despite continued poor displays, yet the Reds still face a battle to finish in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League. Humiliating exits from both the Champions League and the FA Cup have added to the pressure on manager Rafa Benitez, who has been heavily linked with a switch to Italian side Juventus in the past few weeks.

Speculation on Benitez’s future has been rife all season, with each defeat piling even more pressure on the former Valencia boss.

The Liverpool board have publicly backed the manager and he has denied claims that he plans to meet Juventus officials to discuss a move, but there is a foreboding atmosphere around the club that suggests change may be planned for the end of the season. Failure to finish in the top four would only exacerbate the club’s problems, particularly financially.

There have been few positives for Liverpool this season, with the win over their city rivals providing a rare moment of celebration for Reds supporters. A repeat success on Saturday is a must if Liverpool are to stay in touch with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

They will have to do it without key first-team players however, with Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson and Yossi Benayoun all currently out injured. Captain Steven Gerrard is fit again, albeit still searching for his best form.

Liverpool struggled against Bolton last weekend but did enough to make sure of three points as they search for more attacking fluency to compliment recent defensive solidity.

Dirk Kuyt has risen to the challenge of providing goals in Torres’ absence but the team still lacks the flair going forward that they showed at the end of last season. Clean sheets have been more common since the turn of the year but Jamie Carragher is playing out of position at right-back and Daniel Agger has not returned to full fitness.

The performance will have to be much better all over the pitch against in-form Everton, who are growing stronger each week as key players, such as Mikel Arteta, Phil Neville and Yakubu, return from injury and the African Cup of Nations. Positive results away at Arsenal and Chelsea, and a rousing victory over Manchester City will have given Everton belief that they can triumph at Anfield for the first time in 11 years.

Reds fans will be hoping that Liverpool can find the strength of character to win a big match once again this season, but also that it becomes the start of a winning run rather than a one-off victory.