Everton host Liverpool in the 221st Merseyside derby on Saturday looking to preserve their unbeaten home record.

Roberto Martinez’s men have racked up three wins and two draws on their own turf in the Premier League this season, and three points at the weekend would see them move level with their local rivals.

Everton head into the fixture looking to extend a four-match unbeaten run in the top flight, although their last two games have both produced 0-0 draws.

Successes over Hull and Aston Villa were followed by stalemates against Tottenham and Crystal Palace, and Martinez will hope for a better performance in front of goal as they aim to improve their league position of sixth.

The Spaniard takes charge of his maiden Merseyside derby after joining the club in the close-season, and the 40-year-old believes the fact the two sides are so closely matched in the table heightens the game’s importance.

“I am delighted to be getting ready for a first Merseyside derby and really looking forward to it,” he said. “When you add all the connotations of a derby with the importance of the points, I think this fixture is going to be as big and good as a football game can be.”

Everton are boosted by the return of full-back Tony Hibbert, who is available following a calf injury, while close-season signing Antolin Alcarez (groin) looks set to finally put his injury woes behind him and is contention to make his first Everton appearance.

Martinez admitted the duo are unlikely to start against Liverpool as they step up their match fitness, while Arouna Kone and Darron Gibson (both knee) remain long-term absentees.

Liverpool – who have not lost to Everton in their last five Premier League encounters – head into the clash buoyed by 4-0 rout of Fulham before the international break.

A Fernando Amorebieta own goal and a strike from Martin Skrtel established a two-goal cushion, before Luis Suarez’s double completed the comfortable victory.

That result left the Anfield outfit in second place, just two points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Liverpool’s last defeat to Everton came in a 2-0 reverse at Goodison Park in October 2010, with strikes from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta settling the game on that occasion.

Brendan Rodgers’ men lead the head-to-head record between the sides with 88 wins to 66, although last season’s fixtures both produced draws.

Full-back Jose Enrique will be absent for the visitors. The Spaniard is set for an extended lay-off as he is likely to require an operation on a knee injury, while Iago Aspas (thigh) and Sebastian Coates (knee) also remain sidelined.

Daniel Sturridge has been struggling with a dead leg, but Rodgers is optimistic the striker – who has scored eight Premier League goals this term – will be fit to feature.

The pair both featured for their countries this week, even though the England ace was carrying a knock and Uruguay had little need for their fiery forward against Jordan

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has criticised the over-use of strike duo Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez by their respective countries, revealing that he is sweating on the availability of both for the Merseyside derby as a consequence.

The pair returned from the international break in less than perfect condition, with Sturridge playing 90 minutes for England despite failing to train due to a dead leg, while Suarez played 170 minutes of Uruguay’s World Cup play-off against Jordan – even though the South Americans triumphed 5-0 in the first leg.

Rodgers was disappointed to see Sturridge, who also has a thigh problem, play the entirety of the Three Lions’ 1-0 defeat to Germany and now doubts the 24-year-old will be able to go the distance against Everton.

“I was not overly surprised he played the full 90 minutes,” the Reds boss told reporters. “But it’s not ideal if you haven’t trained.

“When you see Daniel – and I have worked with him for a number of months – I know when he’s at his best. That’s when he has been training regularly and playing games.

“Sometimes managers are led by players. Sometimes they want to play 90 minutes and that is something we will consider. He is back recovering and we will see where he is.”

Suarez, meanwhile, took part in Uruguay’s 0-0 draw with Jordan in Montevideo on Wednesday and only arrived back in England late on Thursday night.

“It was strange considering a lot of players were probably playing in Europe,” Rodgers said of the striker’s belated arrival in Liverpool.

“To have to go there was not ideal but we have seen it with Suarez before. Luckily, we have a player who’s robust and we have taken every measure to get him back as quickly as we can.”

Liverpool’s derby showdown with Everton is scheduled to kick off at 13:45CET on Saturday.

The Reds boss has hit out at talk suggesting that the club are set to bring the highly-rated England Under-21 international to Anfield during the January transfer window

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has denied that the club have agreed a deal with Derby County to sign midfielder Will Hughes.

The England Under-21 international has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, with recent reports claiming Derby County had accepted a £12 million offer for the youngster from the Reds.

However, when asked whether Liverpool had a deal in place to sign Hughes in January, Rodgers told reporters: “Nothing could be further from the truth.

“I feel for this young guy. He’s a very talented young player.

“People aren’t doing him any favours linking him with a move to Liverpool all the time.

“There’s been no bid or deal agreed. He’s at the best place he could be.”

The 18-year-old, who has hit four goals in 18 appearances for Derby this season, is viewed as one of the most exciting talents in England to play his football outside of the top flight.

Although it now seems unlikely that Liverpool will make an offer for Hughes in January, reports suggest they may well come back with a bid in the summer.