Everton manager Rafa Benitez has been warned that he will "feel the heat" if his side fail to stop Liverpool from picking up all three points in Wednesday night's derby.
The Toffees welcome their arch-rivals to Goodison Park this evening in need of a win to pull themselves out of a horrible slump of seven games without a win.
But it will not be Everton boss Benitez's first taste of the Merseyside derby, of course, having been on the other side of the Stanley Park a few years ago.
Benitez is one of the most successful Liverpool managers of recent years, winning the Champions League and FA Cup during his reign.
But as he prepares to face his former club, Reds legend Ian Rush has piled even more pressure on the Spaniard with Everton sitting down in the bottom half of the Premier League table and without a win in over two months.
"If Liverpool win and win well, Rafa will no doubt feel a bit of heat from the Toffees support and the press, but that's football and he'll be ready for that," Rush told Gambling.com.
"We've seen it recently with Steve Bruce and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer losing their jobs – it's a ruthless industry – but Rafa is fully aware of what he's got himself in to.
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"There's already pressure because they haven't won in seven league games and that run will be even harder to stomach if they lose to their local rivals on Wednesday.
"But I think people should be looking at the long term rather than the short term and I have no doubts Rafa will turn things around at Everton whatever happens in the derby.
"The Liverpool game is a big chance to make an impression, but if they don't get a result there are other big games coming up and they'll surely start winning."
Rush also admitted that while he was surprised to see Benitez put his Anfield loyalties aside to manage Everton, he does hope that the 61-year-old can turn things around at the Blues.
"When Rafa went to Everton I have to say I was a bit surprised, but I think he just wanted to get back into football and the Everton job came up," Rush added.
"He lives in the area, so it made a lot of sense in some ways, but it was a brave decision by him.
"He knows the people of Liverpool, he loves the city and is very connected with the locals and I think that's part of what attracted him to Everton where he's desperate to succeed and give their supporters something to shout about.
"He has confidence in his own ability and so do I, it's a good appointment and I think it will work out given time.
"I know Rafa personally and I genuinely want him to succeed at Everton, but I just hope things only start to go his way after the Liverpool game because I want them to get all three points.
"It's not an easy job but he's prepared to get Everton back where they belong and I wish him the best of luck – after the Liverpool game of course."
