Programme notesJürgen Klopp: This is a special rivalry - we have to use the passion

The Reds and the Blues, who are now led by Sean Dyche, will renew their rivalry in an 8pm GMT kick-off as Klopp’s men aim to bounce back from defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers by claiming three Premier League points.

Writing in the matchday programme, the manager explains his anticipation for this particular fixture and details the necessary approach his side must take when the action begins.

“Good evening and welcome to tonight’s fixture, the Merseyside derby against our neighbours Everton – an occasion that I know causes excitement not just in our part of the world but also much further away because it is such a special rivalry,” says Klopp.

“Of course I extend this welcome to Sean Dyche, who is making his return to management at Everton after doing such a good job at Burnley. Obviously this means that Frank Lampard is no longer the manager of Everton but there is no question that he is young enough to come again so I wish him well.

“Sean’s work speaks for itself. He has a clear idea of how he wants his teams to play and this means they are only ever a tough opponent. I know there will have been some who were surprised by Everton’s performance against Arsenal last week and especially the result they got, but I was not. In a strange way, it felt almost expected.

“So, credit to Sean and his players for this victory. For us, we have a warning – not that we needed it – of what should be expected tonight.

“This is a derby so we need to fight with everything we have but only in a positive way. We have to fight to play football and nothing else. This is a game for passion but it can only ever be used in the right way. Nothing else makes sense.

“I have said before that sometimes these matches can be too intense and I know this isn’t always what people want to hear, but it is true. Intensity is a part of what we do and the reality is that we could not do anything without it, but we have to bring our other qualities too or else we will just make a difficult fixture even harder.

“Our form going into tonight is not what we would want it to be and we are as aware of this as anyone. I have no doubt that Everton will look at us and think that we are not in our finest moment because that is true, but it is up to us to fix that and no-one else.

“When I first came to Liverpool I told the players that everyone is responsible for everything and I believe that as much now as I did then. Whatever problems we have, each of us can solve them together.

“I know that this isn’t the best time that our supporters have ever had following Liverpool, but they also have a part to play – not just tonight but in every game we are involved in from this point on.

“I say this not as a request, because I know our fans deliver more than any others, but to underline the need for togetherness in bad moments even more than the good.

“Someone told me that there will be a ‘flag night’ on the Kop tonight and, to be honest, that made me excited because if there’s any way that it can look any better than it does at other times I cannot wait to see it. If the noise can match the colour then we really are in for something special.”

Get your copy of the matchday programme at Anfield tonight or order online here.