Everton suffered a serious pre-match blow when their playmaker Mikel Arteta was ruled out of the 203rd Merseyside derby with a jarred nerve in his back.

It meant Kevin Kilbane came into midfield in the only change from the side which beat Aston Villa 4-1 last weekend. Duncan Ferguson returned to the bench after a seven-match suspension.

Liverpool full-back Djimi Traore missed out after suffering a thigh injury during the midweek victory against Birmingham. Harry Kewell returned to the starting line-up, with John Arne Riise reverting to left-back.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Kewell, Crouch. Subs: Dudek, Kromkamp, Fowler, Morientes, Warnock.

Everton: Wright, Hibbert, Weir, Stubbs, Naysmith, Osman, Cahill, Neville, Kilbane, Beattie, McFadden. Subs: Turner, Yobo, Ferguson, Davies, Van der Meyde.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire)