Men in Blazers’ resident Everton fanatic previews the Merseyside Derby

Roger Bennett used this sentence to describe his latest post on NBCSports.com:

“I wrote this piece about how I learned, aged 12, to fear the Doom of Merseyside Derby Day”

The Everton supporter reflects on a time when he was forced to watch from a couch despite holding tickets to the club’s match against Liverpool. He had been concussed in a rugby match, and was in no shape for attending the match.

[ VIDEO: Martinez, Rodgers speak ahead of Merseyside Derby ]

Saturday morning brings us the next iteration of the derby, and Bennett is feeling familiar hope instead of the pain from head trauma. When Everton marches into Anfield at 745am ET on NBCSN, Bennett will watch his relatively-struggling club take on a wounded and relatively-struggling rival.

One of those clubs will emerge appearing to struggle less, at the expense of their enemy.

From NBCSports.com:

Liverpool have also appeared all too mortal. Shorn of the defected Suarez and injured Sturridge, Brendan Rodgers has lost three of his first five league games. Yet a clash against Everton is too often the cure for what ails them. I type while braced for the irresistible Steven Gerrard Derby Day strike which has come to feel like one of nature’s most inevitable laws and the very worst case: a Mario Balotelli hat trick -- especially if those goals prove to be the only ones the Italian scores this season.

It’s a good read from Mr. Bennett, and will help get your proverbial juices flowing for Derby Day, which, again, kicks at 745am ET on NBCSN.

Follow @nicholasmendola