This is not your father's Merseyside derby (ESPN article)

by Dave Usher for ESPN

I really don't like Merseyside derbies, especially those at Goodison Park. In fact, believe it or not, I'm on a self-imposed boycott of Goodison, having seen so many bad results at the Home of the Blues. It's not that Liverpool haven't had success in this fixture, it's just that they haven't had it when I've been present.

I've only witnessed one Liverpool victory on the other side of Stanley Park and that was on my very first visit there in 1987, when an Ian Rush goal in extra time was enough to see the Reds progress in a League Cup tie best remembered for Jim Beglin suffering a horrific leg break.

Every time I've been back since, it either ended in draw or defeat for the Reds. When I stayed away, Liverpool usually won, so -- despite not being an overly superstitious type -- I decided that I was obviously the problem and exiled myself from trips to Goodison. And lo and behold, things improved massively for Liverpool in my absence, with the Gary McAllister winner in 2001 being an obvious highlight.

Only once did I break my exile: In 2004, when a Lee Carsley strike won it for the Blues on a miserable day for Liverpool in which Rafa Benitez bizarrely started Salif Diao over Xabi Alonso. I was sat in with the Everton fans that day; it was not a pleasant experience and I decided there and then I wasn't going to set foot in that godforsaken place again. I didn't even hesitate to turn down a ticket for this fixture, as I didn't want my bad mojo to hamper the Reds on what will be a difficult enough game as it stands.

Liverpool's preparation for the game has been less than ideal. The biggest blow for Brendan Rodgers was that Jose Enrique has been ruled out for several weeks, leaving a huge void at left-back. Rodgers has numerous options available to him, but none can adequately replace the Spaniard.

In addition, skipper Steven Gerrard took pain-killing injections to play for England in midweek while Daniel Sturridge was sent out to play on one leg by Roy Hodgson, and according to Rodgers, is now a doubt for the weekend. Sturridge has had the problem for three or four weeks apparently, which may in part explain the drop off in his play in that time. Playing 90 minutes of a friendly international with a dead leg four days before a Merseyside derby seems a tad irresponsible, and if Sturridge misses the game -- or isn't at his best as a result of it -- then Liverpool fans won't be best pleased with him or Hodgson.

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