Liverpool will be hoping to recover from a recent poor run of form when they take on Everton at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland was the Reds' third successive league defeat and all but ended their slim hopes of Champions League qualification.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists victory in the Carling Cup last month marked a significant turning point in the club's progress but, as they struggle to finish in the top-four, serious questions have been raised over the Scot's transfer policy last summer.

Having lost to Manchester United, Arsenal and Sunderland, Dalglish's men have slipped to seventh in the Premier League, with a measly 39 points from 27 games. And Liverpool's attack, which has mustered just 30 goals between them, has recently been cited by captain Steven Gerrard as "not good enough".

Everton are one of five teams with a worse goals-per-game ratio than Liverpool but Tuesday's visitors have been buoyed in recent weeks by the signing of Croatian forward Nikica Jelavic, who has impressed since moving from Rangers in January.

Jelavic, 26, boasts a superior shots-per-goal ration than Liverpool counterpart Luis Suarez, according to Castrol EDGE Performance data. The £5m-signing scored with his first shot in Premier League football on his full debut against Tottenham on Saturday and his record in the Scottish Premier League, where he averaged a goal every 136 minutes, bodes well for Everton's hopes of Europa League qualification.

Everton make the short trip across Stanley Park unbeaten in five league matches since the Croatian's arrival and can climb above their Merseyside rivals with a win on Tuesday night - something David Moyes has yet to achieve in 10 years as Toffees' boss.

Team News

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is available after coming on as a second-half substitute against Sunderland at the weekend.

Right-back Glen Johnson faces a late fitness test on a leg injury but Daniel Agger misses out with a cracked rib.

Everton welcome back winger Steven Pienaar after missing the clash against parent club Tottenham on Saturday.

Midfielder Darron Gibson remains side-lined with a knee injury.