Toffees midfielders back from bans

Everton midfielders Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Marouane Fellaini both return from suspension for Sunday’s 212th Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

However, there are slight doubts over midfielder Jack Rodwell (groin) and striker Louis Saha, who also picked up a knock in Wednesday’s defeat at Hull.

Steven Pienaar made a welcome return in that match after a two-month absence with a knee injury and is likely to start again against Liverpool.

Provisional squad: Howard, Heitinga, Yobo, Baines, Distin, Hibbert, Cahill, Gosling, Rodwell, Bilyaletdinov, Fellaini, Saha, Yakubu, Neill, Nash, Jo, Baxter, Agard, Wallace, Pienaar.