Live Coverage: Brendan Rodgers's weekly Liverpool press conference

Brendan Rodgers has said that he is not yet sure whether Daniel Sturridge will be ready to start for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby this weekend.

The striker returned from several months out to score against West Ham United in the Premier League last weekend.

The match will be Rodgers's 100th league match in charge of the Reds.

Read what else the manager discussed below.

2.38pmWell, that's all from Rodgers for now, so join us again on Saturday to see if Liverpool can get the better of their neighbours. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.

2.35pmEmre Can earned plaudits for his performance against Bolton last night, and the Manager says: "He's helped give the side balance, his positional awareness for someone so young is excellent. He's strong and smart."

2.33pmThis match will be Rodgers's 100th Premier League game in charge of the side. He tells reporters: "There hasn't been a dull week, but I've enjoyed every minute of it, I love my life here."

2.32pmLiverpool youngster Jordan Ibe is back at the team following a loan with Derby earlier in the season, and Rodgers says: "We brought him back because with the system we're playing, he can play in four positions, so there's a greater chance for him to play."

2.30pmWith the club having signed a number of new players over the summer, this will be the first Merseyside derby at Goodison for several members of the squad, but Rodgers is confident they will handle the pressure: "It will be a new experience for some of our younger players, but they have all played in big derby games elsewhere."

2.28pmDespite insisting that top four is the aim for Liverpool in the league this season, Rodgers says that his side will be trying to win the remaining cup competitions as well: "We are in a European competition and in the FA Cup we can get to final, and we can challenge not just for fourth place but beyond that. Those are the objectives of the forthcoming months."

2.27pmRodgers believes that his side's seven-match run without a defeat will count for nothing in the derby: "I think they have had their first win in eight games so I can only talk about our momentum. Sometimes form can go out of the window in derbies, but we're going into it in a real good moment."

2.25pmRodgers is asked whether Daniel Sturridge will be ready to start against Everton, and while the manager insists that the striker is "coming along very well" he admits that he does not know yet whether Sturridge will be ready.

2.23pmWhen asked about this derby being the last for Steven Gerrard, Rodgers responds: "I'm sure Everton fans will be glad to see the back of Steven Gerrard. He's been incredible for this club. I've been involved in a few of these games over the past two-and-a-half years, they go so far, they're full of emotion."

2.20pmRodgers starts by reiterating that Champions League qualification is the aim for this season: "Games like last night epitomise the spirit and togetherness. That feeling is very much back in the team. Top four is the objective"

2.18pmSlightly later than expected, Rodgers is finally ready to talk to the media, so let's see what he has to say...

2.16pmLiverpool sit seventh in the table heading into this match, but a win could be enough to move them above Spurs into sixth.

2.12pmAs well as the tricky run of Premier League matches coming up for Liverpool, there's also a trip to Crystal Palace coming up for Liverpool following their win over Bolton last night.

2.08pmWhile we wait for Rodgers, here's another shot from the team's training session this morning:

PHOTO: Steven Gerrard prepares for Saturday's Merseyside derby at Melwood this morning #LFC pic.twitter.com/KtibS0ORdP

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 5, 2015

2.05pmIn recent years, this have been a closely-fought matchup, with four of the last five Merseyside derbies ending in draws. However, their meeting at Anfield last season saw Liverpool pick up a 4-0 win.

2.02pmThere has been some suggestion in the run up to this match suggesting that the police are unhappy with the kickoff time for this match. The 5.30pm start time means that the fans will be leaving the stadium at around 7.30pm.

1.59pmDon't forget, we'll have live coverage of this match, and every other Premier League fixture taking place this weekend, from an hour before kickoff, plus loads of post-match reaction, analysis and player ratings.

1.56pmThis fixture starts a run of tricky matches for Liverpool, as they host Spurs midweek before a trip to Southampton later this month, while they host champions Manchester City at the start of March.

1.53pmLiverpool were boosted by the return of Daniel Sturridge after four months out with a string of injuries in last week's win over West Ham, scoring off the bench. Here's the England international preparing for Saturday's derby in this morning's training session at Melwood:

PHOTO: @D_Sturridge warms up for Saturday's game with Everton #LFC pic.twitter.com/BcOCgaeuyU

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 5, 2015

1.50pmThis derby will be the final for captain Steven Gerrard before he moves to LA Galaxy in the summer. The midfielder always seems to come up with a goal against the Toffees, including earlier this season, when the sides drew 1-1 at Anfield.

1.47pmGood afternoon! Just hours after Liverpool's remarkable FA Cup comeback against Bolton Wanderers, Brendan Rodgers is already getting his side ready to face local rivals Everton this weekend. He'll be talking to the media in around 15 minutes.

Live Coverage: Brendan Rodgers's weekly Liverpool press conference

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