Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso failed to recover from thigh and foot injuries respectively for the 206th Merseyside derby.

Everton's Tim Cahill also failed to recover from a foot injury, as boss David Moyes went for Phil Neville and Phil Jagielka in central midfield with Ayegbeni Yakubu and Victor Anichebe up front. James McFadden was left on the bench.

Rafael Benitez opted for Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin in attack with Peter Crouch again on the bench, while Steven Gerrard started on the right with Mohamed Sissoko partnering Javier Mascherano in the centre.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Arteta, Jagielka, Neville, Osman, Yakubu, Anichebe. Subs: Wessels, Baines, McFadden, Pienaar, Carsley.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Gerrard, Mascherano, Sissoko, Benayoun, Voronin, Kuyt. Subs: Itandje, Crouch, Pennant, Babel, Lucas.