Derby v Liverpool
Pride Park
Wednesday, 26 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Derby skipper Matt Oakley remains a doubt with the groin strain that forced him out of the draw at Newcastle.
Stephen Bywater picked up a shoulder injury and Darren Moore a back problem in the match at St James' Park but both are expected to face Liverpool.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is likely to make changes with a tough trip to Manchester City looming next Sunday.
Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, Fabio Aurelio, Lucas and Jack Hobbs could all be in line for a starting place.
Derby (from): Bywater, Mears, Moore, McEveley, Leacock, Barnes, Edworthy, Oakley, Pearson, Lewis, Fagan, Howard, Miller, Teale, Earnshaw, Feilhaber, Holmes, Price.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hobbs, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Kewell, Babel, Lucas, Sissoko, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Itandje.
Derby manager Paul Jewell:
"I am a realist, I know we have got it all to do.
"All I can ask of the players is that they give me everything they have got.
"Day-to-day we are gradually improving and coming around to the way we want to do things because every manager is different and does things differently."
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez:
"It is too early to talk about the title or whether we will be in the top four.
"There are a number of sides who are playing well, so you cannot say who are going to be contenders.
"My idea is one game at a time and then see if we are in the top four at the end of the season."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Paul Jewell takes his new charges to the city of his birth looking for a first win as Derby manager, having stopped the rot with a first point in seven outings from Sunday's 2-2 draw at Newcastle.
Liverpool look for the victory to take them back into the top four from their 600th Premier League fixture.
Derby have only ever won one Premier League game on Boxing Day; they defeated Newcastle 1-0 at home in 1997.
Liverpool have lost only two of the 13 Premier League matches played on 26 December, but one of the pair was 1-0, away to Blackburn, last year.
Liverpool are unbeaten in seven Premier League matches against Derby, including wins in the last three with an aggregate of 9-0.
CLUB FORM
DERBY COUNTY
Highest achievable: 20th
Lowest could fall: 20th
1. The only club with one Premier League win (from 18 attempts).
2. Lost more Premier League matches than any other club (13), dropped an unequalled 47 points, and own the worst goal difference in English and Scottish league football of -33.
3. Scored fewer Premier League goals than any other club; eight, at one every 203 minutes (three hours 23 minutes) on average. Also, conceded more than anyone else; 41, at one every 40 minutes.
4. Pressing for a first win in 13 league outings.
5. Picked up three points from a last possible 36, since their only league victory of the season; 1-0, home to Newcastle on 17 September.
6. Failed to score in an unequalled 12 Premier League matches this season; and lost all 13 matches in which their opponents have scored the opening goal.
7. The current total of seven points from 18 games is nine fewer than accrued by this stage in 2001-02, when they were last relegated from the Premier League.
8. Picked up only one win and two draws from their eight home league matches.
9. Not scored at home in four league games or 431 minutes (seven hours 11 minutes) since Kenny Miller's early goal in the 1-1 draw with Bolton on 29 September.
10. Home to Blackburn next Sunday, before the trip to Bolton on 2 January.
LIVERPOOL
Highest achievable: 4th
Lowest could fall: 7th
1. The 4-1 home win over Portsmouth on Saturday followed back-to-back losses in league and cup, and ended a two-game losing streak in the Premier League.
2. Won three of the last five league outings, scoring a total of 11 goals in those three victories.
3. Netted a goal every 49 minutes of Premier League football played; only leaders Arsenal have a better rate at one every 45 minutes.
4. Conceded 11 times in the Premier League; only Manchester United (nine) and Chelsea (10) have shipped fewer.
5. Fallen behind from the outset three times in Premier League games this term; only Manchester United have conceded the opening goal on as few occasions.
6. Been shown 21 cards in Premier League competition this season (all yellows); Everton have also been shown as few as 21 but theirs are comprised of 19 yellow and two red.
7. The third strongest club away from home in the Premier League having accrued 17 points from a possible 24; won five and drawn two on their league travels since losing 0-1 to Fulham in their last away match of last season on 5 May.
8. Lost 3-1 at Reading in their last away league game; not suffered back-to-back away defeats since returning from Portsmouth and Fulham with no points on 28 April and 5 May respectively.
9. Boast the best defensive record away from home in the highest league with just five goals conceded in eight matches.
10. Must visit Manchester City on Sunday, before the home clash with Wigan on 2 January.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
DERBY COUNTY
Kenny MILLER is Derby's joint top scorer with three Premier League goals.
Goalkeeper Stephen BYWATER is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Derby's Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
Matt OAKLEY will be making his 250th Premier League appearance (Southampton and Derby).
If on the field from the outset:-
Craig FAGAN will be making his 150th career league start (Bristol City, Colchester, Hull and Derby).
LIVERPOOL
Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 14 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with eight.
Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
Suspended:-
Peter CROUCH
HEAD TO HEAD
Liverpool are on course to complete a fourth Premier League double over Derby, having outclassed them with a devastating display of fire-power in the 6-0 thrashing at Anfield in September, a victory that shot the Merseysiders to the top of the table for the first time in five years.
The Reds also did the double when they last met the Rams in 2001-02.
Derby have not enjoyed victory over Liverpool since Jim Smith's side prevailed 3-2 at Pride Park on 13 March 1999 with the aid of a Paulo Wanchope double.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Derby 32 wins, Liverpool 65, Draws 28
Prem: Derby 3 wins, Liverpool 9, Draws 1
at Derby only
League (inc PL): Derby 26 wins, Liverpool 23, Draws 13
Prem: Derby 2 wins, Liverpool 4, Draws 0
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Liverpool 6-0 Derby County
1 September 2007 - Ref: Alan Wiley
Liverpool scorers: Alonso 27, Babel 45, Torres 56, Alonso 69, Voronin 76, Torres 78
REFEREE
Alan Wiley (Burntwood, Staffordshire)