Brendan Rodgers criticism 'normal' because of Liverpool's huge spending, says Roberto Martinez ahead of Merseyside derby

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Roberto Martinez has cranked up the pressure ahead of the Merseyside derby by insisting Liverpool should be favourites due to their spending over the last three years.

Even though the two sides are only separated by one point and four places in the table, the feeling sweeping the city ahead of the 225th clash between Red and Blue is that Martinez's squad have the momentum going into the contest.

But Martinez, who will give John Stones and Seamus Coleman every opportunity to prove their fitness, is not buying into the theory that Everton hold all the aces and says the scrutiny on Brendan Rodgers is 'normal' given Liverpool's expenditure in recent seasons.

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Christian Benteke (right, £32.5million) celebrates his goal against Bournemouth with Dejan Lovren (£20million)

Roberto Martinez said Liverpool were favourites for Sunday's derby because of the money they have spent

Martinez said pressure on Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers (pictured) is under is 'the nature of the game'

'I don't think being favourites matters a lot,' said Martinez. 'The way we have started in the games that we have played, we have shown some form. 

If you look at the amount of money Liverpool have spent in the last three seasons and the expectations they have, that would make them favourites.

'The pressure is the nature of the game. The league has so many high expectations and that is normal. It comes with not winning games. If you win a game, you look to the next one. If you don't win a game, you are under pressure. That is how it works.

Romelu Lukaku completed a dramatic comeback for Everton against West Brom on Monday night in a 3-2 win

Martinez said a first derby win in five years for Everton would turn a very, very good start into an exciting one

'You respect the opposition and a team with huge investment behind it. We are trying to develop a squad that is getting better window by window. I am delighted in the manner we are working and pleased with the mentality that we are showing. We want to get stronger.

'I know how important it is to get a victory in the derby. The build-up has an extra significance. The only thing that matters is that getting three points that would help you make a very, very good start into an exciting one. We want to give our supporters a sense of satisfaction.'

Everton have not won a derby since October 2010 and their record since the turn of the century has been lamentable but Martinez is paying no attention to past results; he says the only game that matter in the context of this match is Everton's 3-2 win at West Brom.

'I don't think we should look anything further back than our last home game,' said Martinez. 'We should just be looking forward to the weekend, nothing else. In the last 17 fixtures, we have only had one win.

'We want to concentrate on how good we can be. The kit men are the ones who get really excited. That is probably the only difference as they have 320 stories to tell. We just have to keep calm. You can imagine the confidence goes through the roof after a win like that.'