Good evening all! Thank you for joining Sports Mole for the 222nd Merseyside derby! It's safe to say that this is the big one of the night as six Premier League games are due to get underway. There's a lot riding on this one as both clubs are fighting for a Champions League spot this season.

These fixtures are always deemed crucial in the city of Liverpool, but this clash is being considered as one of the most important in recent years. The result of tonight's encounter could be looked back on as a pivotal match at the end of the season as just one point separates the two sides at the moment - Liverpool sit in fourth, while Everton are sixth.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of this match, the teams news for both teams has filtered through from Anfield. Remember that both teams are dealing with injuries at the moment, which has resulted in some changes being made from the blue half of Merseyside. However, let's start with the home team...

LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Cissokho, Skrtel, Toure, Flanagan; Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho; Sturridge, Sterling, Suarez

SUBS: Jones, Kelly, Ibe, Smith, Moses, Aspas, Alberto

EVERTON XI: Howard; Baines, Jagielka, Alcaraz, Stones; Mirallas, McCarthy, Barry, Barkley, Pienaar; Lukaku

SUBS:Robles, Hibbert, McGeady, Naismith, Gueye, Osman, Garbutt

Brendan Rodgers has opted to make just one change that drew 2-2 with Aston Villa a fortnight ago, but that is down to an injury-ridden defence. Glen Johnson is out for an "indefinite" amount of time due to a series of injuries taking their toll on the full-back. With that in mind, local boy Jon Flanagan, who shone during the reverse derby at Goodison Park earlier this season, has been given a starting spot.

As we already know, Lucas Leiva is expected to be absent from the midfield for a number of weeks due to injury, which means that captain Steven Gerrard may assume the defensive midfield role tonight. The England skipper himself admitted after the Villa game that his first-half performance in that position was not the best, so we will have to wait and see how the 33-year-old will cope tonight. However, we could see moments where Gerrard is unleashed and allowed to show his trademark passes. I'm sure he'll be determined to make an impact against his local rivals.

Rodgers claimed this week that Joe Allen may have a chance of getting into the squad following a stint on the sidelines with injury, but as the teamsheet shows, there's no place for the midfielder. As for the Reds' attacking options, Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho will be offering their service, while prolific duo Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez, who have recently been labelled 'SAS', start tonight.

Liverpool's defence has been shaky in recent games after being rocked with injury blows to Mamadou Sakho and Daniel Agger, but Martin Skrtel and Yaya Toure resume in the centre of defence. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet received plenty of plaudits for his performance at Goodison in November, but the Belgian's confidence appears to have been knocked in recent weeks after committing a number of blunders in goal. He'll need to be on his game tonight!

Let's switch to the Everton team now. Roberto Martinez has made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion in their last league fixture. Sylvain Distin, Seamus Coleman and Bryan Oviedo, who suffered a double fracture against Stevenage on Saturday, have been taken out of the defence for the Toffees, while Leon Osman makes way from the midfield.

Steven Pienaar, John Stones and Antolin Alcaraz all start for Everton at Anfield, but the biggest news of the night is that midfielder Ross Barkley has been given the nod. Martinez stated earlier this week that the club could give the England Under-21 international a pain-relieving injection before the game. The midfielder has not played since January 4 since suffering a toe injury, so it's a massive boost for the blue half of Merseyside.

Let's not forget that Everton announced earlier this week that left-back Leighton Baines has put pen to paper on a new four-year contract. There were doubts over the England international's future following Manchester United's interest in the summer. However, Baines has washed away all doubt by committing his future, and he starts tonight.

We've spoken about Sturridge and Suarez, but having Romelu Lukaku at your disposal is not too shabby for Everton. The Belgian striker, who is on loan at Goodison from Chelsea, has proved his worth so far this season by netting nine goals for the club. Could he add to that tally this evening? We have just under half an hour until we find out.

As we've all witnessed in the past, Merseyside derbies tend to get the blood pumping and tempers can flare among the players, but Gerrard has insisted that emotions need to be handled. He told BT Sport a matter of minutes ago: "It's difficult - I've experienced highs and lows in derbies throughout my career, but theres's more at stake [tonight]. When the game starts, emotions run high but it's important to control them."

Speaking of Gerrard, the midfielder has donated £96,000 from his own pocket to the Hillsborough Family Support Group this week. Despite the fierce rivalry between Liverpool and Everton, the 1989 disaster, which took the life of 96 Liverpool fans, has united the two clubs over the years. A very generous gesture from the Reds captain.

Right, back to tonight's match. Everybody keeps saying that the result could prove crucial, and here's why - both clubs are hoping to qualify in a Champions League spot by the end of the season, but with Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea likely to cement the top three places, there would only be one place left for the likes of Liverpool, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to fight for.

If Liverpool win this evening, they will stretch their lead over Everton to four points and keep their place in fourth, but if Everton grab maximum points, they will leapfrog their rivals into the final Champions League spot. So, as you can see, it's more than just bragging rights at stake here between the two clubs!

We all know that anything can happen during 90 minutes of football, but the stats favour Liverpool ahead of kickoff. The Reds have won seven and lost just one of their last 14 Merseyside derbies in the league. For Everton, they have won none of the last 13 league trips to Anfield, drawing seven and losing six in that time.

PREDICTION: With just over 10 minutes to go until we get underway at Anfield, let's consider how this game could turn out. Just as it shows in the table, I don't think there will be much between the two sides tonight. Both teams play attacking football, so goals could be on the agenda, much like they were in the 3-3 draw at Goodison. With Liverpool's problems in defence being highlighted of late, it wouldn't be a shock for them to concede, but they also have Sturridge and Suarez at their disposal. Everton have proven that they can score against this Liverpool side, so I'm going to play it safe and go for another draw!

Just a reminder that there are five other Premier League games tonight. Arsenal could extend their lead at the top of the table with a result against Southampton at St Mary's, while Juan Mata is making his debut for Manchester United against Cardiff City. Sports Mole has all the coverage of tonight's Premier League action here.

Anyway, back to matters at hand at Anfield. Both teams are lining up in the tunnel and are ready to emerge onto the pitch to the roaring crowd. Once the obligatory handshakes are done, play will begin!

KICKOFF: Everton get the 222nd Merseyside derby underway at Anfield, kicking towards the Kop end.

Sturridge comes out wide to receive the ball from Cissokho. After driving inside to the box, the forward plays a one-two with Suarez, but they fail to get through Everton's defence to get a shot on goal.

Barkley shows his intent early! The midfielder receives the ball in the middle of the park and soars towards the box and decides to unleash a long-range shot towards goal, but it flies over the bar and fails to trouble Mignolet.

SAVE! Tim Howard makes the first save of the game after some pressure from Liverpool. Henderson picks the ball up just outside of the area and dips it over the bodies in the box towards the right far corner, but the USA international dives to his left to keep the ball out of the net.

Everton move into Liverpool's half with Barkley, who plays the ball across the field to oncoming Stones, who brings the play back following pressure from Cissokho. The ball is lofted into the box looking for Lukaku, but he cannot get a decent touch on the ball and it bobbles out for a goal kick.

The referee has stopped play momentarily as Pienaar goes to ground after a bang on the head from Flanagan. The midfielder seems okay to carry on.

CHANCE! Phil Jagielka fails to clear the ball from a Coutinho pass, and as it bobbles away from the defender, Suarez latches onto it and shoots a low drive towards goal, but Howard manages to gather.

Sterling plays a long ball to Suarez on the counter-attack. He manages to find the Uruguayan, but his touch is too heavy and Stones is able to get there in time to nick the ball off the prolific forward.

That was a weak effort from Sturridge. The England international picks up the ball on the right corner of the area, and while he had the option to pass to the overlapping Henderson, the striker went for a low shot, but he could not get enough power on the effort.

Liverpool have been asking the questions in this early stage of the first half, while Everton are yet to trouble Reds keeper Mignolet. Liverpool continue to press when Everton have the ball, but have not found the breakthrough. It's a good start from the home side.

Everton enjoy some possession with some precise passing, but they don't put any pressure on Liverpool in their half. Alcaraz drives from the back line and opts to thread the ball through, but it's aimed at nobody and Liverpool resume possession.

At the other end, Suarez latches onto a loose ball and wraps his right foot around it in a bid to curl it into the right corner of the net, but it's an easy take for Howard.

There's some frantic defending in Liverpool's box as Everton try to create a move in the final third. Pienaar's effort is blocked by Skrtel, but the ball doesn't go far, which needs Gerrard to drop back and clear the danger.

Gerrard goes for a shot, but it's not the best effort from the Liverpool skipper. He sets himself up just yards from the edge of the area. He goes for trademark power, but it flies over the bar.

SAVE! Liverpool come close to finding the breakthrough as Sterling shows some electric pace down the right. The ball feeds into the England Under-21 international's path, but he fails to control the ball and Howard comes off his line to block the danger and keep proceedings goalless.

It had to be him! Liverpool captain Gerrard has got on the scoresheet for his boyhood club and gives the Reds the edge in this Merseyside derby. Suarez's delivery from the corner kick is whipped into the box, but Gerrard leaps higher than his marker, Gareth Barry, to hammer the ball into the back of the net with a header.

Looks like there's some bad news for Everton as Lukaku appears to be struggling. The Belgium international has been seeking treatment after Liverpool found the breakthrough and looks like a change could be imminent.

EVERTON SUB: As expected, Lukaku has been taken off by Martinez, who has opted to bring on Steven Naismith to replace him. A big blow for Everton.

Everton try to respond with some quick passing in the box. As Barkley lines up a shot towards goal, Gerrard blocks his effort, which allows the Reds to break. At the other end, Sturridge tries to curl the ball into the top corner with his right foot, but it glides just over the bar. Liverpool are definitely on top at the moment!

It will be interesting to see how Everton respond having gone a goal down and losing their star man in Lukaku. Barkley is trying to put pressure on Liverpool's defence by closing them down, but the Toffees are yet to force any trouble on Mignolet. However, they will get their chance now as they are awarded a corner...

SAVE! Mirallas drives inside int he box, but falls before he can get a shot on target, but Barry is there to pick up the pieces. He drives the shot towards the middle of the goal, but Mignolet dives to make the save.

CHANCE! Everton have come alive in these last few minutes. Mirallas, who has been in impressive form this season, soars towards the centre of the area and unleashes a shot aiming for the right post, but it's whiskers away.

Half an hour gone and Liverpool have doubled their lead! Just as Everton looked to build some pressure, Liverpool get some possession with Coutinho, who gets away from his marker to thread the ball into the feet of Sturridge, who is in acres of space. He launches a right-footed shot around Howard to get on the scoresheet.

My oh my! Who would have predicted Liverpool would be 3-0 up after 35 minutes?! It's some poor defending from Everton but take nothing away from Sturridge, who receives a long ball onside and drives away from the blue shirts at the back. He waits for Howard to drop his shoulder and lobs the ball over the keeper to find the back of the net. Game over?

Everton get a chance to get themselves back into the game with a free kick on the left side of the final third. Baines lofts it into the box, but it is easily cleared by red shirts.

Some one-touch passing between Barkley and Mirallas allows the Belgian to drive towards the right side of goal, but his shot towards the near-post is saved by Mignolet, who gives away the corner. The ball is swung into the box, but Gerrard is able to clear.

Everton launch another attack through Mirallas, who drives the ball into the box from the right, but Toure manages to head the ball away from goal and behind the line for a corner, which comes to nothing for the visiting side.

Barkley tries to wiggle his way through in the box after receiving the ball from Naismith, but Liverpool latch onto the ball and are quick on the break through Sterling. He soars down the other end of the field and looks to thread the ball into the feet of Suarez, but Alcaraz manages to block his effort and knock the ball out of play.

Barkley once again finds himself on the edge of the area, but as he lines up a shot at goal, the ball bounces into his own teammate Naismith and reverberates back into the feet of a red shirt. That move sums up Everton's half.

A huge team talk is needed from Roberto Martinez if Everton are to get back into this game. Liverpool sit three goals to the good after the first 45 minutes, and while the Reds have been impressive this season, I'm sure even they would not have predicted to have such a strong lead in this game already.

The Reds have shown intent from the first whistle by displaying some intricate play and pressing Everton when they're not on the ball. Sterling, Suarez and Sturridge have used their pace on the counter-attack, with the latter exploiting Everton's defence on two occasions to net a brace in the first half. Nobody could deny Liverpool's blistering half at Anfield, but Everton will need to tighten up that defence in the second 45 minutes.

It's been too easy for Liverpool's attacking three to get through the Toffees' back line, with Jagielka showing some uncharacteristic uncertainty at times, while Alcaraz has looked uncomfortable trying to handle Liverpool's pace. Liverpool's midfield three of Gerrard, Henderson and Coutinho have dominated their opponents in the middle of the park so far, and Brendan Rodgers will be hoping for more of the same in the second half.

As well as conceding three goals, Everton will be without Romelu Lukaku in the second half after he was forced off the field following the first goal due to injury. Reports have claimed that the Belgian striker could have suffered ankle ligament damage.

UPDATE: Elsewhere in the Premier League, Manchester United are 1-0 up against Cardiff City, Norwich City and Newcastle United are goalless, while Southampton have just drawn level at 2-2 with league leaders Arsenal. The game between Swansea City and Fulham remains goalless, while Crystal Palace are a goal to the good against Hull City. Keep up to date with all the scores here.

We're just moments away from the second half at Anfield. Can Everton get themselves back into the game, or will Liverpool extend their 3-0 lead?

RESTART: Liverpool get the second half underway, kicking towards the Kop end. Everton have made a change at the break, with Leon Osman coming on for Steven Pienaar.

Everton have started the second half on the attack, and they definitely need to if they want to get an early goal after the break. Despite moving into Liverpool's area, the Reds manage to push Everton back into their own half.

Mirallas manages to shake off three red shirts to fins Baines with space on the left. The full-back swings the ball into the box, but Gerrard is able to head clear.

Gerrard is called into action again and he gives away the corner, which is swiftly taken by Baines. The danger is eventually cleared by Toure, but Everton are on the attack again...

It's a hammer blow for Everton, but delight for Liverpool as Luis Suarez gets his name on the scoresheet. After some pressure from the away side, Liverpool go on the counter-attack with a long ball searching for the Uruguayan. Jagielka latches onto it but it's a poor touch as he knocks it right into the path of Suarez. The forward storms from the halfway line with Jagielka chasing after him. Suarez cuts across the defender and slides the ball into the bottom right corner of the net. Liverpool back in control!

PENALTY! Dear oh dear. Referee Martin Atkinson points to the penalty spot after Howard brings down Sterling in the box, but for some reason the USA international is not even booked for the incident.

MISS! Sturridge has the perfect opportunity to give Liverpool a 5-0 lead but his effort glides over the bar. The England international should have done a lot better. Could that give Everton a shred of hope or is the game already done and dusted?

Everton manage to create space in the middle of the park, but once again, Liverpool continue to close their opponents down, which forces the Toffees to move the play back to their defensive line.

Liverpool win back possession and try to exploit Everton's defence once again by using their pace on the counter. Sturridge drives down the right side of the area, which forces Alcaraz to foul him just on the edge of the area.

CHANCE! After Alcaraz clears Gerrard's whipping free kick into the box, the corner is played short to Coutinho, who drives inside and launches a shot towards the left near post, but it just glides wide.

Everton are given some hope after Flanagan brings down Osman just yards from the centre of the area, which forces Atkinson to award the visitors a free kick. Mirallas lines up to take it...

The Belgian hammers it towards goal, but it meets the wall first as Suarez gets his body in the way to clear any danger. Everton will need to find the back of the net soon if they want any chance of upsetting their Merseyside rivals.

Liverpool go on the attack again as Sterling tries to loft the ball over the Everton defence for Suarez, who manages to stay onside, but Alcaraz spots the move and heads the ball away from the area.

Barkley is able to wriggle away from two Liverpool players on the right side of the area to get a shot in at a tight angle. Mignolet, who has made some mistakes in recent games, keeps his eye on the ball and knocks it behind for a corner, which comes to nothing for Everton.

Liverpool are continuing to close Everton down when they don't have the ball. Martin Skrtel has even found himself in an attacking position at times. The away side have been struggling to track their opponents man for man all night so far.

It's a wasted effort from Sturridge after Liverpool launch another counter-attack with three on two. The striker controls the ball and tries to lift it over the keeper to dip into the back of the net, but he misses the target, much to the annoyance of Suarez, who was yelling for the ball.

LIVERPOOL SUBS: There will be no hat-trick for Daniel Sturridge this evening as he is taken off by Rodgers and replaced with Victor Moses. Martin Kelly also enters the field in place of Jon Flanagan, who has just recently returned from injury.

Moses joins the attack by driving down the left side and plays a few one-touch passes with Coutinho. The ball is eventually played towards Sterling, who connects the side of his foot with ball, which soars way over the bar and fails to trouble Howard.

Liverpool try to calm proceedings by knocking the ball around in their own half. Everton are running out of time with 15 minutes left to go in the clash.

EVERTON SUB: Ross Barkley's stint at Anfield comes to an end as he is taken off the field and replaced with Aiden McGeady.

CHANCE! Some great work down the left from Mirallas eventually results in McCarthy receiving the ball in the area. He glides it across the face of goal for Naismith, but the Scotsman is unable to latch onto it as he stretches for the ball. So close!

Everton have had the majority of possession in the second half, but they're struggling to make it count in the final third as we near towards the final 10 minutes of normal time.

LIVERPOOL SUB: The home side make their final change of game by bringing on Alberto as Coutinho makes way.

Everton's attack fizzles out and Sterling is able to latch onto the loose ball, but Liverpool's counter-attack ends as quickly as it began as Sterling gives the ball away instantly.

Skrtel is forced to hook the ball away from goal after Osman drove out wide on the left to cross the ball into the area. Everton go on the attack again, but Moses is forced to knock the ball behind for a corner, which comes to nothing for the visitors.

The sting has gone out of the game as we reach the final five minutes of normal time. Liverpool seem happy to just see out the rest of the half and grab all three points, while Everton are still searching for their first goal of the evening.

Liverpool grab possession and go on the attack as Alberto glides the ball into the feet of Moses on the left side of the box. Instead of crossing the ball across the face of the net, Moses goes for goal at the near post, but his tight effort smashes into the side netting.

Cissokho gives the ball away in his own half, which allows Everton to create an attack, but the full-back redeems himself by forcing McGeady to the line, which results in a goal kick.

Henderson drives into the corner of the box and tries a swinging shot towards goal, but his effort is blocked by a blue shirt and it bounces behind for a corner, which comes to nothing for the Reds.

So, there we have it! Liverpool have consolidated fourth place in the Premier League with an emphatic 4-0 victory over local rivals Everton. The Reds are now just six points behind leaders Arsenal after the Gunners dropped points against Southampton this evening.

The Toffees are now four points behind a Champions League spot, but their European hopes are still alive. Thank you for joining Sports Mole for tonight's coverage, and remember to stick around for all the match reports, analysis and reaction to this evening's games. Until next time, goodbye!