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Phil Jagielka believes Everton have already drawn first blood ahead of their return to enemy territory.
David Moyes's men retreated across Stanley Park to Goodison Park last Monday with a precious point after Tim Cahill's equaliser denied Liverpool a victory that would have taken them back to the top of the Premier League.
The Blues are back at Anfield in the fourth round of the FA Cup today with their ranks bolstered by 6,000 fans - and Jagielka says that Everton's late show six days ago gives them an edge.
Jagielka, Manchester-born and man-of-the-match on Monday night, admitted: "The result in the league game has only added to the confidence that we can go to Anfield again and get a result in the cup.
"We played very well and to have come away with nothing would have been a travesty.
"It would have been a big blow for us to take, while Liverpool would have gone into the second game on a high.
"In terms of how the cup tie pans out, it might be a totally different game.
"But all Evertonians are hoping that Monday night's result will have an impact on the game. It would have been a massive disappointment to have had our unbeaten run ended by our local rivals.
"As it is we are buzzing. We showed great character to come back and if it gives us a lift and does the opposite to Liverpool that's a bonus."
He added: "Our game plan will be the same. When we haven't got the ball we will look to make it as difficult as possible for them.
"Liverpool are likely to have a lot of possession, but what matters is what you do with it.
"They might have dominated the game the other night, but we were always in there with a chance. At no point did we feel that Liverpool really had any control of the game."
Everton are unbeaten in seven matches, and when Steven Gerrard fired Liverpool ahead it was the first goal they had conceded in that spell.
Their form is even more remarkable given that Moyes has been without strikers Yakubu, Louis Saha, James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe.
Moyes's magnificent work rarely gets the widespread praise it deserves.
But Jagielka said: "Perhaps we don't get a lot of credit from people outside Goodison, but that doesn't bother us.
"Expectation brings pressure and we are just happy to slip under the radar as long as we're getting results.
"We've got great spirit. We've only got a small squad, but everyone is together and prepared to do whatever we are asked to do.
"Great credit has to go to the manager, the coaches and the players because we all want to do it for each other.
"We don't want to let down anyone and we don't know when we are beaten."
He added: "I think the key to any team is how you respond when your backs are against the wall - and at Everton we keep on fighting. But I think it's a mistake to say that we are just a team of battlers.
"It's part of our game, but we have got some real quality in there as well.
"We'll back ourselves to beat anybody on our day, so the FA Cup offers us a real chance to win something.
"The draw wasn't kind to us. Liverpool away isn't the kind of tie you would pick, but it wouldn't be a big upset if we beat them.
"Portsmouth won it last year and Cardiff reached the final, so the cup is up for grabs as far as we're concerned."
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