Saturday 27 September 2014 09:18, UK
Brendan Rodgers is focusing on the positives from Liverpool’s start to the season and is hoping victory in Saturday’s Merseyside derby can kickstart their progress this year.
Liverpool have lost three of their opening five Premier League matches this term, struggling to match their early form last season which saw them take four extra points at the same stage.
But last year’s 4-0 derby win at Anfield started a run of 37 points out of 39 in the second half of the season, and Rodgers is hoping victory this weekend can have a similar impact.
"We haven't made the best of starts this season but in the like-for-like games last season, we're only a point different,” Rodgers said.
"We still have positives from it. We've got young players that have been introduced into our team, which is what we look to achieve to try to help them and educate them to come through and play for the first team.
"We go into this game with a great opportunity to get a victory in a derby game, which we will hope can provide a platform for us to go on consistently, like it did last year."
Rodgers has an excellent record in Merseyside derbies, registering three wins and a draw from the four he has presided over as Liverpool manager.
"I've loved every second of it,” he said. “They've been great, both home and away.
"But of course the performance at Anfield last season was really special because Everton were on a good run of form. They were building and developing well under Roberto and obviously came to Anfield with maybe an eye on winning, but we were exceptional.
"Every aspect of the game, our performance, our counter-attack and our finishing, was fantastic. It's a really special game between two great football clubs.”
