Joel Robles is preaching positivity before the 228th Merseyside derby. The Spanish goalkeeper claims Everton are feeling positive nine times in the course of a 12-minute interview and strays from the mantra only once when declaring that they “need to kill” Liverpool. Once is enough.

It is an ill-advised comment, especially considering Everton have had twice as many players sent off in the derby as their rivals – 18 to Liverpool’s nine – and one that perhaps partly explains their woeful record in the fixture in the 21st century. Emotion has often got the better of Everton on derby day and Anfield appears to generate added tension.

“I’m not scared of playing at Anfield,” Robles says. “I don’t know why people think so negatively about this game.” Because Everton have not won there since 1999 comes the instant reply. “This is a problem when people think like that,” he adds. “This game is totally different. If we win this 5-0 they will forget everything. We are positive. The last game or 1999 doesn’t matter. We are ready for this game.”

That may be so, but it is almost routine for Everton to proclaim confidence before an Anfield derby and fail to show on the day. There is no way of twisting statistics into damned lies when it comes to Everton’s recent record against Liverpool. No wins in the past 12 Premier League meetings, one win in the last 20, three in the last 34 – all at Goodison Park – and none at Anfield since Kevin Campbell’s goal and an outstanding defensive display led by Richard Gough helped secure a 1-0 victory 18 years ago, when Walter Smith was manager. And on that occasion Liverpool had Steven Gerrard and Sander Westerveld sent off.

A bad run was understandable in the mid-70s and 80s, when Liverpool were the dominant force in England and Europe, but is perplexing given the varying states of flux Anfield has endured in the recent past. Liverpool even won the last four times they have had a man sent off. Everton must overcome a mental barrier to become the first team in the top seven to defeat Jürgen Klopp’s side this season, and Robles’ mantra suggests Ronald Koeman has been playing psychologist as well as tactician this week.

“I don’t think we have a psychological problem,” says the goalkeeper. “This is a totally different game. Liverpool is different for our fans and for the team it is important for our season because we are in a good way. We need to think positive. It is a special game but that’s it. No extra pressure. It is three points, that’s it. Obviously against Liverpool we don’t need any extra pressure. I think it’s the best time to win at Anfield and we’re positive.

“The past doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if people are talking about the Champions League or the Europa League – just focus on Saturday. Everyone is excited. We are positive, we want to win and we have no fear. We are ready for them. We need to kill them, that’s it.”

Joel Robles has regained the No1 spot at Everton from Maarten Stekelenburg. Photograph: Anthony McArdle

It is Liverpool who have inflicted the pain on Robles in their past two encounters. Last season, when Ramiro Funes Mori increased Everton’s red card count, Robles was fortunate to be beaten only four times at Anfieldin what many Evertonians demanded should have been Roberto Martínez’s final game in charge. In December, having replaced the injured Maarten Stekelenburg at Goodison, Daniel Sturridge’s 94th-minute shot deflected beyond his grasp and on to a post before Sadio Mané knocked in the rebound.

Robles, whose defensive line will sorely miss the injured Séamus Coleman, says: “Last year, with the red card for Funes, it was different. Anfield with 10 players was a difficult situation and we also lost [John] Stones to illness. After the 4-0 the dressing room was so sad but now we need to think about the present. The past doesn’t matter.”

This season’s Goodison derby signalled a turning point for the 26-year-old former Atlético Madrid and Wigan Athletic keeper under Koeman. The Everton manager signed Stekelenburg shortly after his arrival last summer and immediately handed his compatriot the first-team spot that belonged to Robles last season. Since Stekelenburg’s injury, however, the Spaniard has grasped his opportunity and nine clean sheets in 15 appearances reflect his improvement.

“At first there was disappointment and it was difficult,” Robles says. “In that moment when I wasn’t picked in the team things changed for me. But when I went home and thought about it I realised I needed to change my mentality, train well and be ready for the moment when maybe the situation changes. Like one day if Stekelenburg got injured. I don’t like to play because my team-mate is injured but this is football and sometimes you get lucky. You need to grab the opportunity. Now I am in goal and I am enjoying it and this is the most important.”

Whether Robles’ long-term position is secure under Koeman remains to be seen. The former Spain Under-23 player, David de Gea’s understudy when they started out at Atlético, will enter the final 12 months of his contract this summer. “My first wish is to play for Everton,” he says. “I have everything clear but I don’t know. I am happy here and I think the club is happy but I don’t know about this summer. We are talking about a new contract but nothing is clear apart from that I want to play for Everton.”