Liverpool Echo: Kenny's derby preview

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

There is no better fixture to help transform the mood. No better stage on which to show your true colours.

The 217th Merseyside derby at Anfield tonight provides Liverpool with the opportunity to banish the frustration of recent weeks.

A season which promised so much is now in the balance. Liverpool are wounded and an in-form Everton can smell blood.

With an FA Cup quarter-final with Stoke City coming up on Sunday, Dalglish is under no illusions about the importance of regaining momentum.

Registering a first home league win of 2012 against their neighbours would be the perfect tonic at the start of a pivotal week.

"For us it's a massive game," Dalglish admitted.

"It's a great game to play in and there will be a fantastic atmosphere. Anybody involved in football knows derby matches are special.

"We know how big it is and how much enjoyment the people get from winning it.

"If you win you get to enjoy it and you get the bragging rights for the city. But both teams come straight out of it into FA Cup sixth round ties at the weekend.

"There's not much time to sit back and rest on your laurels and neither would you want to. But I'm sure everyone would get a fair bit of enjoyment from a positive result.

"Everyone has to take responsibility and everyone needs to stand up and be counted. Let's stand together and see what we can do."

Saturday's setback at the Stadium of Light means for the first time since 2003 Liverpool have suffered three successive league defeats.

Dalglish, who has never lost four in a row as Reds boss, insists there is no cause for alarm and says morale hasn't been dented by the recent lean spell.

"It's certainly not a record you expect from Liverpool," he said.

"We don't want to get into the habit of losing games, but in between the losses we won the Carling Cup.

"We've never gloated when we've won so we won't hang ourselves when we've lost. No-one is feeling sorry for themselves.

"Both against Arsenal and Sunderland we deserved more than what we got. They were different performances but we were playing different teams in different conditions. For all the attributes Sunderland had we more than matched them. We had 56% possession and they had one shot on target which they made the most of.

"They got a bit of luck with their goal and if you are going to win games you always need a bit of good fortune at some stage.

"We wanted to progress this season and we have progressed. We've also got a stronger squad this year than we had last year, but we've got to put points on the board.

"We just need to keep believing in ourselves and keep pushing forward."

Liverpool are eyeing a fourth league double over the Blues in seven seasons following their 2-0 win at Goodison back in October when they capitalised on the controversial dismissal of Jack Rodwell.

Goals from Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez that day ensured Dirk Kuyt's penalty miss wasn't costly.

However, David Moyes' men have improved since then and make the short trip across Stanley Park in the belief they're capable of ending a 13-year wait for a victory at Anfield.

A 1-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday extended their unbeaten run to nine games and closed the gap between the Merseyside rivals to just two points.

Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of Moyes' arrival at Goodison. Dalglish says his fellow Scot deserves great credit for the job he's done but the Reds boss is out to ensure the celebrations are muted.

"It's fantastic to be there for 10 years,"Dalglish said.

"Moyesy has done a great job. They've done very well and are on a good run.

"Maybe if Everton are undefeated in nine, they're looking forward to it a wee bit more optimistically than what they were before we played them at Goodison.

"But form has never won a game in a derby and it will come down to what happens on the day.

"I think the city of Liverpool should be very proud that it has two fantastic clubs representing the city and their respective clubs very well. Both clubs have fantastic support.

"Both Moyesy and I will be fully committed to getting a result. Whoever wins it will get the benefit of bragging rights but it's not long until the next important game.

"I would have thought a trip to Wembley in the semi-finals of the FA Cup is every bit as much of a carrot as winning a derby."

No fixture has seen more red cards in Premier League history. The previous 39 clashes have witnessed 20 dismissals with 11 in the last 14 showdowns.

However, Dalglish is confident his players will channel their aggression in the right manner and avoid the wrath of referee Phil Dowd.

"Since I came here I don't think either club has been involved in a game where you could substitute the ball," he added.

"I don't think football allows that nowadays. It will always be competitive but not malicious.

"If it's not competitive then we have got a problem. If you take away the competitive spirit of a derby match then we might as well just close the doors and let no-one in. It will be hectic and frantic. The players have pride in the football club and they know what the derby match stands for.

"There won't be anyone in our squad who isn't looking forward to it, who doesn't understand the game or isn't going to be competitive."

Source: Liverpool Echo

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.