ROY EVANS has called on his Liverpool players to restore the Merseyside equilibrium on the eve of the derby clash with Everton at Anfield.

Liverpool have failed to win in their last four meetings with the arch-enemy from across Stanley Park, and Evans hopes that the 155th League meeting of the Merseyside clubs will swing in his favour as he looks to put one over on long-time derby adversary and Goodison manager Joe Royle.

Royle's arrival at Everton two years ago this month was instantly heralded by a 2-0 victory over Liverpool, with Duncan Ferguson spearheading a full-blooded assault, and since then the Everton manager has secured two draws and an Anfield win, with Andrei Kanchelskis scoring twice in a 2-1 success in the corresponding fixture last season.

"This is not just another game, it's a derby match and it means a great deal for the football fans of this city," said Evans yesterday. "On one hand we've got to make sure we don't get too carried away by the occasion, but on the other we have to show passion and pride, especially so after last year when Everton beat us at Anfield.

"Everton have enjoyed a good run against us, but these things happen in football and we've had good spells in some of,, the games without coming away with a victory.

Evans has a glittering array of talent at his disposal, with over £15 million worth of it expected to be on the bench: Stan Collymore, Patrik Berger and Phil Babb.

However, the Liverpool manager knows that his men must be prepared to slug it out with Everton when he renews a rivalry with Royle that has spanned for more than three decades as player and manager.

"There is a squad of 16 and I won't be making mass changes, although there are one or two options that I will use if I decide they are right for us," added Evans, who brought back Jamie Redknapp and Neil Ruddock at Leeds on Saturday and saw them both excel in a 2-0 victory.

"But whatever team is that we put out, it's important that they show full commitment for the full 90 minutes because that's the one thing you can't do without in a derby. Once you have battled, you hope that the football will then come through, and it would be nice if we could win this one, both for local pride and to maintain our position in the league.

Royle faces even more pressing selection problems as he agonises over whether to make changes to the side that dished out a 7-1 hiding to Southampton on Saturday. Ferguson is champing at the bit to get back into the fray after a two-month absence for knee surgery, and Royle admits he is tempted to recall the £4 million Scottish striker who he describes as "a big game player".

The Everton manager has already showed that he is not afraid to change a winning hand, and the prospect of linking Ferguson with £4.5 million new boy Nick Barmby is mouthwatering. Graham Stuart is the most likely man to drop out should it happen.

"We needed special demands for the Southampton game when Craig Short made way so that we could bring Tony Grant into midfield and we might need special demands for the derby, said Royle, who has seen injury worries over Barmby and Joe Parkinson clear. John Ebbrell is also pushing for a recall after returning to fitness.

"I won't be afraid to make changes if I feel I need to, but I certainly won't be saying what the side will be."

The game was originally scheduled for Sunday, October 20th, and both clubs will be praying that the cold snap that has gripped the country does not put paid to the fixture for a second time.

Liverpool's progress in the European Cup Winners' Cup and League Cup has already led to a fixture pile-up at this relatively early stage of the season, while Everton have arranged to have the game beamed back on to a giant screen at Goodison where it is hoped a crowd of 6,000 will watch the action.