Good morning! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's huge Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield. Both sides have made disappointing starts to the new Premier League season and will be desperate to get a morale-boosting victory over their closest rivals this afternoon, so we should have an interesting game on our hands. Let's start with a look at the hosts...

Things have not exactly gone to plan so far for the Reds. Following a tremendous campaign last season, in which they came agonisingly close to ending their long wait for a league title, they have picked up just six points from their opening five matches and are languishing in the bottom half of the table. Of course, Brendan Rodgers will be stressing to his players that there is still a long, long way to go this season, but they already find themselves seven points behind leaders and favourites Chelsea, and they can't afford to let that gap grow much bigger.

So far, the Reds seem to have struggled under the added expectation and workload on their shoulders this season, while the new arrivals have had mixed fortunes at Anfield since joining. They have not been helped by injuries either, but Rodgers has plenty of depth in his squad - bought largely with the money from the Luis Suarez transfer - and should be able to adapt to any challenges that come their way.

They have not been able to blow teams away in the early stages of matches as they did so effectively last season. Indeed, it has been quite the opposite in recent weeks, with Aston Villa scoring early to beat them at Anfield and then West Ham netted twice in the opening 10 minutes to set themselves on the way to victory at Upton Park last weekend. That will be a concern for Rodgers, as it hints at teams beginning to work Liverpool out, which could mean that the manager needs to come up with a new ploy if they are to rediscover their impeccable form from the tail end of last season.

They come into this match having lost consecutive league matches for the first time in 2014, meaning that they have already lost half as many matches this season as they did in the whole of the previous campaign. As Rodgers has been stressing this week, however, they are only a point worse off in like-for-like matches from last season, even if the performances are still far short of what he may expect. Incidentally, the Reds have not lost three Premier League games in a row since March-April 2012.

Fatigue could well play a part this afternoon following Liverpool's incredible League Cup tie in midweek. Not only were they forced to play the full 120 minutes, but Middlesbrough then took them to one of the most remarkable penalty shootouts you will ever wish to see. No fewer than 30 spot kicks were needed before Albert Adomah finally missed to hand Liverpool a 14-13 victory. The likes of Sterling and Lallana played the whole of that match and are involved again today, so it will be interesting to see how they cope.

Liverpool did fall to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Aston Villa in their last home league game, but since then they have beaten Ludogorets and Middlesbrough (on penalties) at Anfield. That means that they have now lost just two of their last 21 competitive home matches, winning 18 and drawing just the one. However, they haven't kept a clean sheet in front of their own fans since March, and have only kept one in their last 11 games home and away. That is an area where they simply must improve this season.

However, they will be confident going into this one given their recent derby pedigree over the Toffees. Liverpool have lost just one of their last 15 meetings with Everton in the top flight, and none of their last eight. They are also unbeaten in their last 15 derbies at Anfield in all competitions, including a 4-0 victory in the corresponding fixture last season as Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez ripped Roberto Martinez's side apart.

That result kick-started a magnificent run of form for Liverpool, and Martinez will be hoping that the same can happen to his side if they end their recent Anfield hoodoo this afternoon. The Toffees are one point worse off than their close neighbours after four games having only picked up one victory thus far. They will feel that it should be more having thrown away leads against Leicester, Arsenal and Crystal Palace already this season.

That Palace defeat was their last outing in the league as they fell to a shock loss at Goodison Park, going down 3-2 having taken the lead early. It really has not been a good week for Martinez as he saw his side dumped out of the League Cup on Tuesday courtesy of a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. Victory in the Merseyside derby would be the perfect tonic to boost his players after such a week, but defeat would only serve to compound their misery.

The main issue for Everton this season has been defensive errors. The Toffees were so tight at the back in 2013-14, boasting the third best defensive record in the league, but they have already conceded a league-high 13 goals this season and have been the victims of numerous individual errors. On the one hand, that will worry Martinez as it is not something he can rectify on the training grounds, but on the other hand he will know that it is just a matter of time before his side cut such errors out of their game and start performing as they did last season again.

One positive, particularly going into this game, is that only two of those 13 goals conceded have come away from home. Of course, that doesn't say much for their Goodison Park form, but it suggests that a less expansive game on the road is at least more damaging than their open style at home. It could be that Martinez focuses on correcting his defensive issues before moving on to other facets of his team in the coming weeks, even if that is not usually his style. You'd have to think that he would be content with a goalless draw from this match today.

Needless to say, if you concede so many goals, you are going to lose more games than you win. At this stage of the last campaign, Everton were still unbeaten and had four more points to their name. It took them until Boxing Day to lose their second match of the season, yet they reached that tally last weekend this time around. Should they fall to another defeat this afternoon, it would be the first time since Oct-November 2011 that they have lost three consecutive matches in all competitions.

As alluded to earlier, Everton have actually been better away from home than they have at home in recent times. They have conceded just five goals in their last eight outings on the road, keeping clean sheets in four of those games as well. That record does stretch back into last season, however, and so far in this campaign, their matches home and away have featured a whopping 24 goals - an average of 4.8 per game.

They could break a club record this afternoon should they score twice, however. The Toffees have managed to score at least two goals in each of their last seven league games, and they have never done that eight times in a row. Anfield is not a happy hunting ground for them, however, having netted just five times in their last 12 visits here.

TEAM NEWS: Right, the teams are in for both sides, and the big news is that Mario Balotelli returns to lead the line for Liverpool. There is no place for Sturridge, who has not proved his fitness in time, but Rodgers has made six changes in all to the side that played that gruelling match against Middlesbrough on Tuesday. Martinez, meanwhile, has made eight changes of his own, with a host of first-team players returning to the fold following the club's League Cup exploits. Full team news for both sides coming right up...

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Manquillo, Lovren, Skrtel, Moreno; Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana; Sterling, Markovic, Balotelli

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Jones, Toure, Enrique, Lucas, Suso, Coutinho, Lambert

EVERTON STARTING XI: Howard; Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka, Stones; Barry, McCarthy; Besic, Mirallas, Naismith; Lukaku

EVERTON SUBS: Joel, Gibson, Eto'o, McGeady, Browning, Osman, Alcaraz

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, it is no surprise to see Rodgers bring a number of players back into the side following their League Cup match in midweek. Balotelli is one of those as he leads the line in the continued absence of Sturridge. The mercurial striker is yet to really shine at Anfield and has only scored one goal in his last 19 Premier League games, despite attempting 37 shots in that time. It would be just like him to find his form in a big game like this though, wouldn't it?

Liverpool's standout player this season has been Raheem Sterling, and he once again starts this afternoon despite playing the full 120 minutes against Boro on Tuesday. He was once again excellent in that game until he gave the ball away in the final minute, allowing the Championship side to force penalties. Even so, he is likely to be Liverpool's main dangerman having been directly involved in nine goals in his last 10 league appearances (scored six, assisted three).

Lallana's presence in the side suggests that Sterling will be deployed at the tip of the diamond, with the former Southampton man and Markovic on the wings. Lallana is another player who impressed in midweek, but he also played the full 120 minutes so could tire towards the end of his first Merseyside derby. One player very familiar with these occasions is Steven Gerrard, who returns to the side this afternoon alongside Henderson, who has shaken off an injury concern to feature.

At the back, there is no place in the squad for Sakho, but Skrtel does return alongside Lovren. Moreno and Manquillo also continue having made solid starts to their Liverpool careers, although Moreno has made a few notable contributions - good and bad - at either end of the field so far. It is defensively that Liverpool have really struggled in recent times, and they will be desperate for a rare clean sheet this afternoon.

As for Everton, they are able to bring a number of players back into the squad, most notably Romelu Lukaku - who opened the scoring against Crystal Palace in their last league game. Like Balotelli for Liverpool, Lukaku will be the focal point of Everton's attack, with those around him looking to break beyond and latch on to any flick-ons or hold-up play from the big Belgian striker.

Naismith has been one player who has done that very effectively so far this season, and he will be looking to continue his good start to the campaign this afternoon. Mirallas alongside him can also provide a threat to what is a shaky Liverpool defence, while Besic will be eager to continue making up for his dreadful first touch in English football when he gifted Chelsea their sixth goal last month.

One player conspicuous by his absence if Seamus Coleman, who has not recovered from injury in time for this one. That means a rare start for Tony Hibbert at right-back, and he will be hoping to help shore up a leaky Everton defence. Jagielka has been far short of his best so far this season, while Stones is still learning at this level. Baines is, of course, a huge threat going forward, but even he has struggled a bit at the back in the current campaign, while Tim Howard has been unusually sloppy between the sticks.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes from kickoff at Anfield, which means that it is time for a prediction! The old cliche is that form goes out of the window coming into a derby match, and both of these teams will be hoping that is the case this afternoon. I don't see a repeat of Liverpool's rout in January, but both defences look shaky so there should be goals. Both sides need a victory and I expect both sides to go for one, so it should be an entertaining match. I'm going for a 3-2 win to Liverpool.

So that's what I think, but how about the other members of the Sports Mole Sofa? You can find out what we had to say in the build-up to this Merseyside derby here:

You may not be surprised to hear that this match has a reputation for being a little feisty, and it is the Premier League fixture with the most red cards ever. There have been 20 shown in clashes between these two sides - five more than any other fixture. Things do seem to have quietened down lately, however, with no dismissals in the last six matches between them in all competitions. Are we due one today?

Three of those red cards came in a memorable derby exactly 15 years ago today. Gerrard was amongst those dismissed as Everton won at Anfield courtesy of a Kevin Campbell strike, and that remains the last time the Toffees have beaten the Reds in their own back yard.

There is a great atmosphere inside Anfield as both teams come out of the narrow Anfield tunnel and 'You'll Never Walk Alone' rings around the ground. If Liverpool's six derby debutants didn't know what this match was about before, they will now!

KICKOFF: Liverpool get us underway for the 223rd Merseyside derby as both sides look to put shaky starts behind them and kick-start their seasons.

YELLOW CARD! Lallana has made a bright start to this game and he wins a free kick for his side right on the edge of the box as Barry upends him. The Everton man rightly picks up an early booking for what was a poor challenge.

It is a disappointing effort from Balotelli as his free kick hits the top of the ball and bounces away from danger. Quick tempo start to this one from Liverpool, and the tone may have been set nice and early with that clattering Barry challenge. No quarter will be given or asked today.

Good response here from Everton after they weathered an early storm. Lukaku has an early claim for a penalty having been brought down right on the edge of the box in the middle of a bruising run, but Martin Atkinson was having none of it.

SAVE! The first shot on target of the afternoon sees Sterling pick the ball up on the left and cut inside before aiming a low shot towards the near post. It is a tame finish in the end, however, and Howard gets down to make a comfortable save.

Balotelli is played through on goal by Henderson's pass, but Howard stands up well to deny the striker. It wouldn't have counted anyway, however, as the flag was up.

PENALTY SHOUT! Huge penalty shout for Liverpool as the ball bounces out to Sterling, who hammers a shot towards goal that hits the raised arm of Barry. Atkinson is looking straight at it, but waves the claims away. It certainly struck his arm and I have seen them given. Both sides have had legitimate claims turned down already.

SAVE! Barry concedes another free kick for a foul on Balotelli, who gets up to take the free kick himself. His 40-yard effort is bouncing and swerving all over the place, making it tough for Howard to turn wide.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Liverpool to take the lead as Lallana loses his marker to latch on to a corner. He gets a form, downward header to the ball, but Howard gets down really well to make an impressive save before Jagielka can mop up the danger.

This really has been an all-action start to this match. Liverpool have had the better of things so far and should perhaps be ahead after that Lallana chance, , but both sides are playing their part in an entertaining match so far.

Everton need to get a foothold in this game sooner rather than later. Martinez will want his side to get through the first 20 minutes without conceding, and then they may be able to start getting forward themselves, but at the moment it is Liverpool who are very much on top.

Better from the visitors now as they begin to see more of the ball and quell the Liverpool tide that was coming forward. The Reds won a number of corners in quick succession at the start of this match, keeping Everton under pressure, but the Toffees are now enjoying more possession in the opposition half.

Liverpool are pressing up up the field, as usual, in an attempt to force a mistake from the Everton defenders. Barry in particular needs to be careful that someone doesn't just nip in and steal the ball in front of him as he is already on a yellow card and has made one or two challenges that will have kept him very much on Martin Atkinson's radar.

Half a chance for Liverpool as Sterling lines up Hibbert in the area before shifting the ball to his left and drilling a ball into the box. Lallana has a swing at it but can't connect, while Balotelli then can't turn it goalwards either as Everton hack it away.

SAVE! Mignolet is called into action for the first time this afternoon as Lukaku works space to shoot on his favoured foot. He goes for goal from around 25 yards out, but it is a simple one for the Liverpool keeper to hold.

Moreno has ambition, at least. The ball drops to the left-back from all of 40 yards out and he chooses to go for goal, but unsurprisingly smashes his effort well high and wide of the target. A waste of a decent position, there.

Balotelli is eager to make an impact here, and he is dropping deep in an attempt to do it. He picks up the ball around 25 yards from goal and looks to power an effort at Howard, but his shot is well blocked and bounces through to an offside Moreno.

CHANCE! Everton's best opening of the match so far comes as a result of poor Liverpool defending. Gerrard's header goes straight to Lukaku, who builds an attack down the right before the ball is lifted into the area. Manquillo allows Baines to steal in an run through on goal but, with the angle against him, the left-back plays it across the six-yard box. However, Lovren is there to make a good clearance from almost under his own crossbar.

A lofted ball from the left looks to be heading for Balotelli, but he leaves it for Markovic steaming in at the back post. However, the winger's touch is far too heavy and the chance goes begging.

SAVE! Howard is called into action here as Henderson finds space to shoot on the edge of the area. He puts plenty behind his effort, but it is straight at Howard, who beats it away.

Worrying signs for Everton here as Mirallas pulls up while running at Henderson and Gerrard. He looks to have pulled his hamstring, and he looks in a lot of pain as well. He will not be able to continue.

EVERTON SUB: There is the chance as Mirallas makes way to be replaced by Aiden McGeady. Mirallas looks like he could be out for a few weeks at a minimum.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Liverpool to take the lead as Moreno beats his man down the left before putting a good ball into the middle. Balotelli is completely unmarked in a really good position, but he can;t get anything on his header as the chance goes begging!

At the other end, McGeady almost makes an instant impact as he makes his way down the left before playing a low ball across the face of goal. Mignolet gets down well to make a crucial interception, though.

SAVE! Everton come forward this time and the ball breaks to Lukaku via Barry and Naismith. The striker has time and space on the edge of the box, but his attempt curler into the far corner is easy for Mignolet to hold.

Lallana has been heavily involved in this game so far and is looking like Liverpool's most dangerous player so far. Sterling is struggling to have his usual impact, while Balotelli really hasn't started firing for the hosts just yet.

Balotelli is dropping deep time and time again, and is continually being forced into long-range efforts. His latest one goes a few yards wide of the post as once again a Liverpool attack breaks down.

Injury worry for Liverpool here as Skrtel goes down with what looks like an ankle problem. He will receive more treatment off the pitch, but it looks like he may have to be replaced here. They may try to get him to half time at least, however.

Markovic has struggled to make his mark on this match so far, but he comes fairly close here as Lallana keeps the ball in from a cleared corner and knocks it back to the winger. His curling effort has a nice shape to it, but it is never troubling Howard, who watches it wide.

SAVE! Once again Balotelli picks up the ball outside the box and goes for goal having created a yard to shoot. His curling effort is straight at Howard, however, and it is easy for the Everton keeper to hold. That is Balotelli's seventh shot already today.

CHANCE! Poor from Barry as he gifts possession to Henderson, who immediately pounces on it to launch an attack. He slides a pass through to Sterling, who draws a good stop from Howard. The angle was against the youngster there, but the Everton keeper did need to be alert to put it behind for a corner.

There will be a minimum of two minutes added time at the end of this first half.

Martin Atkinson brings an end to an entertaining, albeit goalless first half of football in this Merseyside derby, with both sides having had chances to break the deadlock and a good penalty shout turned down. Liverpool have just about been on top overall, but the visitors have looked dangerous and will know that they are still very much in with a chance of winning this game.

Perhaps the best opening of the match so far has fallen to Lallana, who lost his marker in the box to latch on to a corner and plant a downward header towards the bottom corner. Howard was alert to get down well and make an important stop, however, and he has been called upon on a number of other occasions to keep the scores level here at Anfield.

Everton's best chance of the match so far fell to Baines as he took advantage of some poor Liverpool defending to nick in at the back post and go through on goal. The angle was against the left-back as he advanced on Mignolet, forcing him to play it across goal rather than shoot. However, Lovren was well placed to clear from inside his own six-yard box as Liverpool scrambled the danger away.

Perhaps the biggest talking points of the first half surrounded Martin Atkinson and two penalty shouts within the opening 10 minutes. The first saw Lukaku go to ground under the challenge of Moreno, who appeared to pull the Belgian striker's arm as he burst past him. It would have been a fairly soft one, but I have certainly seen them given and Everton fans can justifiably feel that they should have had a spot kick.

However, Everton fans will also know that they got away with one shortly afterwards as Sterling's powerful effort clearly struck the arm of Gareth Barry inside the box. The midfielder's arm was above his head and blocked the ball, but despite looking straight at it Atkinson failed to give the spot kick. Barry had already been booked at that point, so Atkinson probably would have had to send him off as well.

Balotelli has been heavily involved for Liverpool without really doing much so far. The striker has had seven shots already in this match, but the vast majority have been from outside the area and have not troubled Howard. Perhaps his best opening came after Moreno's cross found him unmarked in the area, but he seemed to take his eye off the ball and completely missed his header.

KICKOFF: Everton get us back underway for the second half at Anfield. We had no goals in the first 45 minutes, but it would be a big surprise if this one was to end goalless.

Another early penalty shout in this half as Besic produces a terrible touch on the edge of his own box to put the ball into a very dangerous area. Balotelli nips in ahead of Jagielka, whose swinging leg saw the striker go to ground. He probably got two wrong in the first half, but Atkinson looks to have got that one right.

Good defending from McCarthy as he gets back to ease Markovic off the ball after the winger had just got in behind the defence. That was an important interception from the midfielder as Markovic would have only had Howard to beat had he not been tracked.

Hibbert slightly mis-controls the ball on a rare foray forward and then goes into a heavy challenge on Balotelli. There is no doubt the right-back got the ball, but the follow through caught Balotelli, who went to ground dramatically. The referee rightly does not give it a second thought, and Balotelli is soon back on his feet.

There have been a number of heavy challenges in this second half already, which is good to see in a Merseyside derby. Each one has been a fair one as well, which has made them even better.

CHANCE! Half a chance for Liverpool as the ball is floated to the back post, where Balotelli is waiting. Lovren comes steaming in and goes for the header, but Balotelli gets in his way and the effort does not trouble Howard. Both players are unhappy with each other, but that really should have been Lovren's to head.

Really good pressure from Liverpool as they force a mistake from Stones on the ball. Lallana nipped in on one side and Balotelli was also there in attendance, but McCarthy was there to end to the move with a foul on the Italian striker.

Sloppy period of the game as both sides give the ball away cheaply and struggle to string a few passes together. Sterling eventually gets hold of it and run at the Everton defence, but Stones makes a superb tackle to halt the youngster.

Liverpool probe for a way through the middle, but Everton crowd the area out to deny the hosts. The ball eventually sits up invitingly for Balotelli, but his powerful strike from range hits Henderson and goes through to Howard.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Liverpool's first change of the afternoon sees Philippe Coutinho introduced to replace Marekovic, who has struggled to have an impact today.

SAVE! Jagielka pings a long ball forward for Lukaku, who holds it up well before knocking it inside to Naismith. The Scot is not closed down and has space to shoot from range, but his swerving effort is straight at Mignolet, who holds on.

Liverpool break forward quickly courtesy of some good defensive work from Balotelli. Hibbert does well to stop the initial pass to Sterling, but Balotelli picks it back up and wins a free kick in a dangerous position...

He has been criticised at times this season, but cometh the hour, cometh the man! Steven Gerrard breaks the deadlock in his 32nd Merseyside derby with a superb free kick, curling it over the wall and under the crossbar. Howard got a hand to it but could do nothing to keep it out as Anfield erupts. First blood to Liverpool!

CHANCE! Huge chance for Everton to hit straight back! A ball arrives in from the left flank and Lukaku is unmarked, but can't get anything on his header!

OFF THE BAR! Incredible! At the other end of the pitch Sterling speeds past a helpless Hibbert before clipping the ball into a very dangerous area. Howard is caught a little in no-man's land, but makes up for that with a sensational stop to turn Balotelli's close-range volley onto the crossbar. Balotelli really should have scored there, but Howard got just enough on it.

YELLOW CARD! Somewhere in that action-packed few minutes, Steven Gerrard has picked up a yellow card. He won't care too much after that strike, though.

SAVE! Good spell of possession from Liverpool here as they look to take the sting out of the game following a frantic few minutes. They suddenly up the tempo in the final third before Coutinho's blocked shot falls to Henderson, who hammers a sweetly-struck effort straight at Howard.

EVERTON SUB: Interesting change from Martinez as he brings on young Tyias Browning for Hibbert, who was just beginning to tire a little.

Not a bad first defensive contribution for Browning! He is up against Sterling, but on his first meeting with the winger he keeps pace and then shrugs him off the ball.

Ridiculous play from Balotelli as he goes down in a heap clutching his face having seen the ball fly over his head from a cross. There was nothing in that clash that warranted such a reaction, and it is not the first time that he has gone down theatrically today.

That's more like it from Balotelli! He shows great strength to hold off Barry amd still has the poise to drag the ball away from Besic before finally being awarded the free kick from Atkinson. That is what the fans want to see from him rather than the theatrics we have seen at times today.

EVERTON SUB: A third and final change for the visitors as Samuel Eto'o replaces Besic for the last 10 minutes.

Balotelli has gone for goal when he shouldn't have a few times today, but you can't fault him for shooting here. The ball bounced up invitingly for him on the volley, but he just cut across it and his effort swerved well wide.

At the other end, Eto'o tries his own luck from range, but his strike goes well over the top. He caught it sweet enough from 30 yards, but it was never troubling Mignolet.

Coutinho has made a real difference since coming on. He has been happy to pick up the ball and pull the strings from midfield, exchanging passes with a number of players in the final third and patiently probing for a way though.

Liverpool are being pinned back into their own half at the moment as the pressure continues to build. They aren't showing much ambition to break forward and kill the game off with a second, with any clearances going straight to a blue shirt and coming right back at them.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Late change for Liverpool as Balotelli makes way following another frustrating afternoon for him. He is replaced by Rickie Lambert.

Not a good minute for Baines. He has the chance to whip in a late corner for Everton, only to see it cleared by the first man, and then moments later he does a foul throw to gift possession back to Liverpool and take the pressure off.

There will be a minimum of three minutes added time at the end of this match.

Oh my word! Everton equalise with just one minute of added time remaining, and it is one of the best goals you will see this season. The ball drops to Jagielka from around 25 yards out and he unleashes the most perfect of half-volleys into the top corner via the bottom of the crossbar. Incredible strike from such an unlikely source.

YELLOW CARD! Moreno gets a late yellow card for a foul on Lukaku, but more importantly it has given Everton a free kick in a very dangerous position. Surely not...?

CLOSE! Baines whips the ball in towards the near post and Barry tries a cheeky flick towards the near post, but it goes just wide.

Anfield still seems a little stunned right now. They were seconds away from picking up another three points against their closest rivals, but a bolt from the blue has rescued a draw for Everton. It really was an incredible strike, and many of the fans in the stadium are struggling to comprehend what they've just seen. We may well have seen the goal of the season right there.

It was Steven Gerrard who broke the deadlock with a fine strike of his own, curling a free kick into the top corner from 25 yards. His thunder was stolen in stoppage time, however, as Jagielka popped up with an unbelievable half-volley past a helpless Mignolet and into the top corner. That will feel like a loss to Liverpool, who were so close to picking up a valuable victory.

Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for yet another enthralling Merseyside derby. It was the 223rd edition, but rarely has there been a finish quite like that one. I'm still trying to come to terms with it, but Everton have picked up a 1-1 draw at Anfield courtesy of a Jagielka stunner. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and player ratings. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!