Video: Brendan Rodgers embraces Liverpool’s status as derby favourites

Brendan Rodgers insists he is more than happy to accept Liverpool being the favourites heading into the Merseyside derby.

His Everton counterpart Roberto Martinez tried to turn up the heat on Rodgers by claiming the amount of money he has spent – this summer's B£80million outlay was four times what the Toffees spent – means there is far more expectation on the visitors to Goodison Park on Sunday despite their recent form not suggesting as much.

Rodgers dismissed the mind games but accepts his side do have to shoulder that burden.

"We will always take the favourite tag. When you are at Liverpool that is what you want," he said.

"We are happy if people want to put that onto us – we are Liverpool. There is no advantage or disadvantage for us.

"If we are the favourites it shows we are a big club and people look to us as the team who want to have that initiative.

"We are definitely a team where every game we go into the level of opponents' games goes up and that is because of the nature of the club we are.

"It shows you the level of expectancy here as opposed to another club. We are happy to live with that."

Everton vs. Liverpool gets underway at 1.30pm on Sunday, 4th October 2015. Keep an eye on This Is Anfield throughout the weekend for build-up, previews and live coverage.