Everton manager Roberto Martinez has expressed his belief that his side have the mental strength to end their poor recent record at Anfield when they take on Liverpool on Tuesday.
The Toffees have not beaten their Merseyside rivals in their own back yard this century, last picking up three points in a 1-0 win in September 1999 when Kevin Campbell scored the only goal of the game.
However, this season Everton have already ended a 21-year winless spell at Old Trafford against Manchester United as well as matching Arsenal for a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium, and Martinez believes that they can finally conquer Anfield as well.
"This season we've had a couple of big experiences in that respect. There is a mental battle you have to overcome," PA quotes Martinez as saying.
"You can come down to the tactical and technical aspects of any performance but more importantly psychologically you have to have that winning mentality.
"This season we have been tested in that respect: going to the Emirates and being able to perform how we did and going to Old Trafford and winning after 21 years means as a group we are ready to go anywhere and be ourselves."
Everton would move above Liverpool if they can claim all three points at Anfield as just one point separates the two sides in the Premier League table.
Barney Corkhill
