Traore relishes the prospect of marking wonderboy Rooney

DJIMI TRAORE is relishing the prospect of going head to head with Everton striker Wayne Rooney tomorrow.

With both Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz absent, Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is almost certain to pair Traore with Igor Biscan in the heart of his defence.

And Traore is confident he can be an able deputy in the biggest Merseyside showdown in years with both clubs chasing a place in Europe.