Jay hoping for derby call
Jay Spearing knows as well as anyone that for local lads, playing in the Merseyside derby is the dream.
He also knows that when it comes to the one of the fiercest fixtures in the Barclay's Premier League calendar, winning the first tackle and making an instant impact is crucial.
Spearing was named in Kenny Dalglish's starting XI for last year's Anfield derby and the midfielder stayed true to his own mantra by launching into an early challenge on Everton full-back Leighton Baines to rapturous applause from the home crowd.
"It's all about the first tackle," Spearing told Liverpoolfc.tv ahead of this evening's clash. "Fans love the first tackle and if one of us can get in and make a good tackle on an Everton player, the fans get themselves all worked up and ready for the game ahead.
"It's all about getting everyone involved and making sure everyone's up for it. Against Everton last year, I thought to myself, 'if I get this involved, I'll have people behind me even more so'. It gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the game.
"Right through the ages, from the Academy, through to the reserves and to first team level, every single local lad wants to be involved in the derby. Last year I got myself involved in the home game and we drew 2-2. But I'm hoping that I'm going to start this one.
"When the fixtures come out each year, everyone looks for the derby first because it's a massive game for this community. The confidence that it can bring and a win for the players is important so you need to settle down straight away and get yourself ready for the game."
And Spearing will never forget what went through his mind on the January morning Dalglish told him he would be starting in his first Merseyside derby.
"I think it was shock," said Spearing. "I didn't realise who else was playing because the moment he said my name, my mind went blank and I started to think, 'oh my god, I've got it now, I'm going to step out in front of 45,000 people in the derby'.
"And it's something which, from a young age, I've always dreamed about doing and it suddenly came to realisation. Dalglish pulled me aside and said, 'listen don't worry about anything, just go and enjoy yourself and show the fans exactly what you can do'. I enjoyed every single minute of it.
"The moment we got onto the bus after Kenny telling us the team, my dad was the first person I text. I said, 'I don't think you'll believe what I'm about to tell you'. He was more nervous than I was I think, but when the game kicked off then it's more excitement and you want to play football.
"To have the faith and the confidence from the manager to put me in, in his second game, a home game and especially a derby as well, meant a lot to me. It meant a lot for him and the club as well. We needed three points that day and I think to have the belief from the manager gave me confidence going into it and it made me settle down quite a bit."
Everton go into the derby as the form side after wins at home to Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea. The Blues have gathered more points than any side in the Barclay's Premier League in their last six games.
Yet while Spearing was quick to acknowledge the work currently being done across Stanley Park and the rich vein of form the Blues have hit, the midfielder insisted that if Liverpool play their own game, they will be successful.
"Everton have done well for themselves and David Moyes has done well for years now," said the No.20. "He's bringing in the right players for the squad but we know that on our day, if we play the football that we can do we can win.
"Against Arsenal, we had them on the back foot for maybe 80-85 minutes of the game and I think that if we take that to Everton, hopefully, we'll collect the three points.
"Leading up to the game it's all about nervousness and trying to get yourself settled down and ready for the game and concentrate on that. But then once that final whistle goes, and if you've got three points, it's something which you'll always remember and the fans will always let you remember as well."