Liverpool head into the 280th Merseyside derby with Everton sitting in fourth place in the Premier League table and having scored 15 goals in their last three matches in all competitions.

A rejuvenated Everton make the short trip to Anfield having recorded back-to-back wins in the top flight for the first time this season, but Sam Allardyce will be aware that defeat to their rivals would wipe out his bright start at Goodison Park.

Liverpool

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Liverpool only sit in fourth place in the table - 13 points adrift of leaders Manchester City - and needed to win their final group game in the Champions League in order to progress through to the last 16, but that does not tell the whole story about the current mood at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp's side come in for criticism from time to time but there are signs that progress is being made at both ends of the pitch, even when taking into consideration their recent capitulation against Sevilla.

Since being thrashed by Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool have put together seven wins and two draws - one of which came against Chelsea - from nine matches in all competitions with five clean sheets also being recorded during that period.

The opposition have not always been the best, but Liverpool's attacking players have found their groove both home and away with 32 goals coming from those nine matches, with Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino contributing all but eight of those strikes.

Salah continues to be Liverpool's main man this season with the Egyptian remaining at the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts, but Coutinho can be the difference maker, providing that the Brazilian can stay fit and Liverpool can hold on to his services at least until the end of the season.

Despite having scored a hat-trick against Spartak Moscow in midweek, the 25-year-old refused to give any assurances about his future, but another match-winning performance in the derby could go a small way to convincing him that his future should be with Liverpool.

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Recent form (all competitions): WDDWWW

Everton

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With Everton having won three games in a row in all competitions, and recording nine goals and three clean sheets in the process, it would be easy for everyone associated with the club to get carried away with their recent upturn in results.

However, while optimism is at its highest for a number of months, facing a rampant Liverpool on opposition territory will realistically dampen expectations and supporters who will be more fearful of a heavy defeat than having confidence of a fourth win on the bounce.

That said, the club's players have not put a foot wrong since Allardyce walked into Goodison Park, and the former England boss will no doubt drum into his first-team squad the importance of being disciplined against arguably the second-best attack in the division.

Allardyce will place faith in Wayne Rooney to add to his seven league goals for the season, but the onus is now on Gylfi Sigurdsson to finally live up to his price-tag of £45m after failing to build on his sparkling campaign with Swansea City.

Each of the Icelandic international's two goals and two assists in the top flight this season have come in his last four appearances and should Allardyce be able to find a way to implement both the playmaker and Rooney in his favoured system, Everton can continue to make headway up the standings.

Question marks remain over the centre of the defence, though, and Allardyce must decide whether to break up the growing partnership of Ashley Williams and Mason Holgate in order to hand a recall to summer signing Michael Keane, who needs to deliver a big-game display to justify the club's reasons for paying £30m for his signature.

Recent form: LWDLWW
Recent form (all competitions): DLLWWW

Team News

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Klopp has revealed that Alberto Moreno will be absent from his squad due to the ankle injury that the Spaniard sustained against Spartak Moscow.

Either James Milner or Andrew Robertson will deputise at left-back, while Jordan Henderson is likely to be recalled after being rested in midweek.

Klopp must decide whether to retain his star quartet in attack, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Daniel Sturridge having to make do with a place on the bench, but Joel Matip will probably miss out with a thigh injury.

Allardyce must decide whether to recall Keane in defence, while either Tom Davies or Morgan Schneiderlin are likely to partner Idrissa Gueye in the centre of the pitch.

Ademola Lookman scored twice in Thursday's Europa League triumph over Apollon Limassol, but the youngster is only expected to be named on the bench.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Gomez, Klavan, Lovren, Milner; Can, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Coutinho, Salah, Firmino

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Kenny, Keane, Williams, Baines; Gueye, Davies; Lennon, Rooney, Sigurdsson; Calvert-Lewin

Head To Head

Sunday's encounter will represent the 280th meeting between the two clubs, with Liverpool having 117 wins to their name in comparison to 82 victories for the Toffees.

However, while Everton have enjoyed success in this fixture, it has been a different story in recent years with no wins being recorded from their last 14 attempts, a run stretching back to their 2-0 triumph at Goodison Park in October 2010.

Liverpool have won the last three contests, with Everton's only goal coming from Matthew Pennington in a 3-1 defeat at Anfield on April 1.

We say: Liverpool 2-1 Everton

Liverpool have been running riot in the final third in recent weeks but Allardyce will focus his attention on shutting out the free-scoring Reds at the weekend. It may lead to a closer game than initially anticipated several weeks ago, but we are still backing Liverpool to record the three points.

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