Aurelio in line for comeback Updated: February 5, 2010, 3:40 PM UK Defender Fabio Aurelio is set to return to the Liverpool squad for the 213th Merseyside derby at home to Everton. Aurelio has missed the last three matches with a calf problem but is on the verge of a comeback. Liverpool's only other absentees are striker Fernando Torres (knee), Yossi Benayoun (rib) and Glen Johnson (hamstring), all of whom are still some way off full fitness. Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher admits the fear of losing remains his overriding emotion when he comes up against Everton. Fortunately for the Bootle-born defender, those occasions have been few and far between during his career at the club, with the last decade bringing just two defeats in 20 matches, including eight victories at Goodison Park. The 32-year-old will play in his 25th derby at Anfield on Saturday - where Everton have not won since 1999 - but still feels the same pangs of nerves. "My feelings haven't changed one bit. There is always that little bit of extra anxiety, which comes from the fear of losing,'' he said. "You talk about results being more important than performances but, ideally, you want to put the two together. "But when you think over the last decade we've probably had our best ever run of results against Everton. Normally in the past whenever Everton have beaten Liverpool, the accusation was that they wanted it a little bit more. "So I'm glad in the last decade we have turned that around and hopefully we'll be able to keep the run going into the next decade. The important thing is that you could never accuse us of lacking desire in these games.'' Everton boss David Moyes is close to having a full squad available. Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta is back in contention for the Barclays Premier League clash after overcoming the groin strain which interrupted his comeback from a serious knee injury. Nigeria pair Ayegbeni Yakubu and Joseph Yobo are back from the African Nations Cup while Jack Rodwell is also fit again. Phil Jagielka (knee) is back in training after 10 months out and Tony Hibbert (hernia) is also close to a return. Moyes has warned Liverpool the side standing in their way at Anfield are of top-four quality. Liverpool, one of the pre-season title favourites, are facing a serious battle to retain their place among the Barclays Premier League's traditional leading quartet this season. Benitez's side have fallen behind Chelsea, Manchester Untied and Arsenal and must now deal with fierce competition from Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City for the fourth Champions League spot. And Moyes, speaking ahead of the derby, believes arch-rivals Everton would also have been up there challenging had injuries not ravaged the first half of their campaign. "We have got a really good group of players,'' said Moyes, who reaches the landmark of 600 games in management this weekend. "We have a squad I think could have competed for a place in the top four - but obviously we have been working with half a squad for most of the year. "We will just have to see what we can do in the second half of the season after a disappointing first half.'' Team Stat Comparison Liverpool Everton Matches Played 24 23 Table Position 5 9 Points 41 32 Goal Difference 16 -1 Goals for * 2.5 1.4 Goals against * 0.9 1.7 Last 5 W-D-W-D-W W-W-W-D-W Last 5 home W-W-W-W-L W-W-W-D-D Last 5 away D-D-W-L-D W-D-D-D-L * Goals per match - home matches for home club and away matches for away club Competition Stats Liverpool Everton Goals Fernando Torres 12 Louis Saha 11 Reds Javier Mascherano 2 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 1 Yellows Javier Mascherano 6 Marouane Fellaini 6 http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=270036&cc=4716&league=ENG.1 --

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