'Liverpool v Everton is derby football at its best'
Jürgen Klopp has described Liverpool versus Everton as derby football ‘at its best’ as the Reds’ boss prepares for his fourth meeting with the Blues on Sunday.
Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over their neighbours in April meant Klopp became the first manager in the club’s history to win his first three Merseyside derbies.
Everton visit Anfield again this weekend under the stewardship of the newly-appointed Sam Allardyce and, ahead of that clash, Klopp was asked whether the fixture has lived up to or surpassed his expectations in terms of intensity since his arrival in October 2015.
“I saw the Merseyside derby at Everton, the 1-1 draw before I came to Liverpool. I think it was the week before I signed as the manager,” he told his pre-match press conference.
“I didn’t have a lot of expectations, to be honest. I didn’t think a lot about it, but it’s a derby at its best and I like it. So far, how I realised it, there’s a lot of respect between the two clubs and I really like that, to be honest.
“In the game, yes there’s still respect but try everything to win it, try everything, but around the games we live in one city and there’s enough space obviously for supporters of both clubs.
“I know a lot of Everton supporters, you meet them all day around the club, and that’s absolutely OK, I have no problem with that. But in the game, I want to see only us at our best.”