Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher believes that the Reds will take a huge stride towards winning the Premier League title this season if they defeat Everton. The former England defender added that a triumph in the Merseyside derby could land a fatal psychological blow to title rivals Arsenal.

The Reds make the short trip to Goodison Park for the final time, in their rescheduled encounter, on Wednesday night looking to move nine points clear at the top-flight summit. The Dutchman saw his side book their place in a first cup final since he succeeded Jurgen Klopp as the 46-year-old enjoys an impressive debut campaign in England.

With the FA Cup this weekend, Liverpool will remain six points clear in the title race. However, they could extend their lead before the Gunners walk out to face strugglers Leicester City on February 15.

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A win in their game-in-hand, over their local rivals, could be detrimental for their rivals in the battle for Premier League supremacy. "This could be a really special season for Liverpool, they've been in this situation where four trophies are available twice in the last three or four years," said Carragher.

"They come away with two Carabao Cups and an FA Cup. They didn't win the big ones.

"The most important thing is to win the big trophies, the Premier League and Champions League, they're in a great position in the final - they'll go into that as favourites. This has the capabilities to be a great season, when you look next week in the Premier League, that's the biggest game of the season.

"Not because it's Everton, Liverpool have been talking about a game-in-hand for about two months. The game-in-hand and the gap over Arsenal, if Liverpool win that they've almost got one-hand on the trophy, a nine-point lead, with 13 or 14 games to go is a huge lead with the form that Liverpool are in.

"The final to come and if they win next week psychologically it's a boost for Liverpool, but also what it would do to Arsenal. I don't think many people a Arsenal would believe they could pull that back, it's a huge lead at this stage of the season."