(Reuters) - Liverpool will relish the challenge of facing Everton in the 223rd Merseyside derby on Saturday and use it as a springboard for a much-improved run of form in the Premier League, manager Brendan Rodgers said.

After an indifferent start to the season, in which they have lost three times in five league outings, Liverpool are 11th, only three places ahead of an equally inconsistent Everton, both sides having shown defensive weaknesses that may be exposed again in their Anfield confrontation.

"In the league, with us winning two games and losing three, it's not ideal, but there are still positives to take out of it," Rodgers told a news conference on Thursday.

"If I look at the corresponding games last season, there's only a one point difference and we ended up doing okay. We know we need to be better, we know we need to improve our performance levels.

"The derby gives us an opportunity to do that. It provides a platform to go on a good, consistent run. Last season, we had a great spell after our win and I think we collected 36 points from then."

That run, following a Liverpool win on Jan. 28, carried Liverpool to second place while a much-improved Everton, under then new manager Roberto Martinez finished fifth.

"They're a good side, with very good players. They're different to us, but they've got a lot of quality," added Rodgers.

"They've probably not got the results they've wanted, but Roberto is an excellent manager. He's done a great job there and, being a derby game, it will be tough for us."

Liverpool, who sold last season's 31-goal top scorer Uruguay striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona for 81.25 million euros ($103.50 million) in July, may be without England forward Daniel Sturridge, who faces a late fitness test after missing four games with a thigh injury.

He dismissed fears over the fitness of another England forward, 19-year-old Raheem Sterling, who played all two hours of Liverpool's League Cup tie against second tier Middlesbrough on Tuesday, when they only won following an epic penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.

"I'm not concerned, one bit," said Rodgers. "Obviously, it wasn't ideal, but we gave him a breather against Aston Villa because we knew that he was going to be important for us over a number of games coming up.

"The League Cup was important and he's a very important player for us, but he's a super-fit boy. He works and trains hard every day."

Asked about Sturridge, he added: "He certainly won't be match fit because he hasn't played for a few weeks, but it will be great to have him back because he's a wonderful player and a great reference for us at the top of the field with his pace and movement."

(Reuters) - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he has no concerns about the form of captain Steven Gerrard after a series of ineffective displays prompted calls from fans and pundits that it is time to reconsider his role in the team.

At 34 years old, Gerrard is entering the period in most players' careers when talk turns to managing dwindling reserves of energy and protecting tired legs from the exertions of the modern game.

Yet there has been no reduction in Gerrard's workload this season with the midfielder starting and finishing all of Liverpool's matches in a patchy and inconsistent beginning to the campaign.

While questions are being asked about whether Gerrard, for so long a talismanic figure at the club, can still be an effective part of Rodgers's side, the manager himself appears not to have any doubts.

"I have no concerns about him - he is a brilliant player for us," Rodgers said, before hinting that his legs could be spared for the bigger games as the season wears on.

"We want him to be involved in the big games because of his experience and we will always taper that recovery to allow him to be at the very best he can be."

The question fans are asking now, however, is whether Gerrard can still be effective in his deep-lying quarter-back role when teams come armed with spoiler tactics to restrict his creative influence.

Recent defeats against Aston Villa and West Ham United have suggested teams will now routinely employ a man-marker to prevent Gerrard having the time and space to launch the raking passes that proved so effective in Liverpool's unexpected title challenge last season.

"I think the problem that Liverpool have got at the moment, particularly with Steven Gerrard dropping into that back three, teams have worked that out," former England and Manchester United defender Phil Neville said.

"Against Aston Villa last week (Gabriel) Agbonlahor just sat on Gerrard all game, they didn't let Steven Gerrard dictate the pace of the game, and that's what he did last season, particularly from Christmas onwards. On Saturday, Stewart Downing did it for West Ham."

If Gerrard is no longer providing an attacking threat then the spotlight is increasingly focussed on other areas of his game including his ability to shut the door at the other end.

Liverpool conceded 50 goals last season, more than any other team in the top five, while they have already shipped eight in their five league games of the new campaign.

Three of Liverpool's starting four defenders against West Ham were new signings, suggesting they might need time to gel, but in front of them, Gerrard won just 25 percent of his duels, the lowest figure of anyone in the team.

The former England captain was quoted on Monday saying he would not let his career "fizzle out", but he now faces a battle to show he can remain a force in one of the most physically demanding leagues in the world.