Everton v Liverpool: Roberto Martinez calls on Everton to play with their heads, not hearts, during Merseyside derby

The sides meet at Goodison in the early kick off on Saturday

Roberto Martinez has fired off another warning to Manchester United after telling them they are wasting their time over Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini pursuit (GETTY IMAGES)

Roberto Martinez wants his Everton side to play with their heads and not their hearts in Saturday's derby against Liverpool.

It will be Martinez's first Merseyside derby, but he is well aware of the disciplinary history of the fixture.

In their last 10 meetings, Everton and Liverpool have shared four red cards and 42 yellow cards, and, with both teams flying high in the Barclays Premier League, Martinez knows there is a danger passion could spill over.

He said: "I think there is a very easy way to put it - you need to play with your head.

"You can be full of passion and understand that every ball is there to be won but it is not a game that you can get yourself carried away with and play with your heart, because you are risking an emotional performance that is not going to help towards the team winning.

"At the end of the day we want to perform well and we want the performance to give us the right result. Nothing else. We don't have to get emotional about it along with the fans."

At the other end of the table, West Ham go into Saturday's clash with Chelsea desperate for points to pull them away from the bottom.

The Hammers stunned Tottenham with a 3-0 victory at White Hart Lane last month but since then have managed just two points from four games and sit level on points with 18th-placed Fulham.

Boss Sam Allardyce said of the Spurs result: "I would've hoped it would already have secured us another win or two.

"We have to face the fact that we're playing well enough but we're not producing what we're paid to do."

Bottom side Crystal Palace travel to Hull, and caretaker boss Keith Millen will once again be in charge of the Eagles.

Speculation has increased during the week that former Stoke manager Tony Pulis is about to take over the reins vacated a month ago by Ian Holloway.

But Millen said: "We're none the wiser and we're just going to get on with the work."

Also on Saturday, two struggling teams meet in Stoke and Sunderland, Fulham play Swansea, Norwich visit Newcastle and leaders Arsenal take on third-placed Southampton.

Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino said: "I would say that the team that we're going to play against on Saturday is the one that's playing the best football in the league. I think they can win the league."

Newcastle have been boosted by the return to training of Fabrizio Coloccini, Steven Taylor and Paul Dummett after injury.

Manager Alan Pardew said: "This time last year, we were in a terrible position with injuries, and this year we are the complete opposite, so that's good news."

On Sunday, Manchester City meet Tottenham and Manchester United travel to Cardiff, while on Monday Aston Villa make the short trip to West Brom.

PA