Ings: Gary Mac's been reminding me about his Goodison winner
It was a moment that will forever be etched in Merseyside derby folklore, and Danny Ings has revealed how Gary McAllister has been telling him about his famous Goodison Park winner.
Back in April 2001, with 94 minutes on the clock and the game heading towards a 2-2 draw, the Scottish midfielder stepped up to score with an incredible 44-yard free-kick that secured a dramatic 3-2 victory for Liverpool over Everton.
Fast forward 14 years and McAllister will be back at Goodison on Sunday afternoon with the Reds as first-team coach – with that piece of magic not just fresh on his mind, but Ings’ too.
The striker told Liverpoolfc.com: “I keep seeing Gary Mac’s free-kick against them…it keeps coming up on TV and he keeps on reminding me about it. He was a [free-kick] specialist, to be fair!
“I know how much derbies mean to football clubs from being involved in them before.
“Our fan base is absolutely gigantic and I can imagine how much it’ll mean to them. I’m sure the team will give one million per cent for them on the pitch and hopefully get the result we all want.
“If I get the nod and the opportunity to play, I’ll try my best to take it with both hands.
“But more importantly, I’d take three points over a goal on Sunday, for sure!”
Ings acknowledges there is naturally added excitement around a derby, but insists Liverpool have geared up for it like any other game.
He said: “For us as a team it is another game. We go into it with the same mentality as we do for every game, which is to try and win.
“But you can hear the lads talking about it around the training ground and about how much it means to the fans the club. You do get a little bit more excited about these type of games – they are games you want as a professional football player.
“It’s exciting for everyone involved and it’ll be a great occasion.”
Ings’ previous experience of local derbies came during his time with Burnley and their hotly contested rivalry with Blackburn Rovers, while growing up in Hampshire he was well aware of the competition that exists between Southampton and Portsmouth.
Indeed, back in March 2014, the striker bagged the goal that secured Burnley's first win at Ewood Park since 1979.
Nevertheless, Ings admits the Merseyside edition will be the biggest one he’s been involved in.
He explained: “When I was younger, it was always about Portsmouth – Southampton on the south coast. That was fierce.
“When I moved up and I was at Burnley, it was always Blackburn and I was fortunate enough to play in the team that beat them at Ewood Park and ended a long run of frustration for Burnley.
“So I know what derbies are all about and I know this one is going to be the biggest one of them all in my career.”
Should Ings help Liverpool triumph over Everton, it will serve to further enhance his ever-growing popularity on the Kop.
The 23-year-old has won the acclaim of fans for the manner in which he has taken to life on Merseyside, with his name ringing out around Anfield in recent matches.
Such support is not taken for granted by Ings.
Asked whether a goal at Goodison would be the perfect way to thank them, he replied: “I thank them anyway regardless. To have that sort of support behind me is massive.
“The leap I’ve made, with all due respect to my old club, is huge and I knew it was going to be all about development.
“I knew when I came in I would have to be patient, but I’ve managed to get the opportunity a lot sooner than I expected.
“To have everyone behind me around the club and the supporters is great.”