Everton facing Liverpool has to be one of the biggest derbies in the world and the two sides are set to clash on Monday. Both sides picked up important victories in the midweek games and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher shared his views ahead of the first Merseyside derby of the season.
The central defender does have a great record in the matches having lost just five times in 30 appearances and stated that the derby is bigger for Everton.
“Derby games for Everton are bigger,” Carragher told Sky Sports’ Fantasy Football Club.
“They are still huge for Liverpool but it’s such a big thing to beat Liverpool – I remember that as an Everton fan as a kid. For Liverpool the derby game at Goodison always felt bigger, perhaps it made it more of a leveller.”
The Anfield legend also explained why Everton could have a chance of winning the game, especially since they are backed vociferously by the crowd.
“Liverpool spend more money and are a bigger club than Everton so they should have a better team – it doesn’t always work out that way and doesn’t mean you’re going to win – but you always fancy Liverpool strongly at Anfield to beat Everton.
“Goodison makes it more of a leveller. The crowd is fantastic – really close to the pitch – and while Liverpool fans get criticised for hounding referees for penalties, I can tell you they go for the referee at Goodison!”
A tough place to visit for any team
Carragher also stated that the crowd can make it difficult for the opposition but the Reds have a great record at the ground and the Sky Pundit would love it if Liverpool picks up another win.
“It’s a very hostile crowd that gets behind its players but we had a great record there. If there’s one place I could go back to as a Liverpool player and win, out of all the grounds up and down the country, I’d take one more win at Goodison.”
Carragher, as stated earlier, does have a number of great memories when it comes to this tie and the Liverpool legend shared one match which he claims is his favourite derby win. It was in 2001 when Gary McAllister scored a late free-kick from 40 years to earn a massive win.
“I think it’s possibly my favourite derby win,” Carragher added.
“We were going for Champions League places and had never qualified for it before and Everton were desperate to stop us in our tracks.
“I think they were fighting relegation – as they were every year at that time – and Emile Heskey made it 1-0, then Duncan Ferguson scored and [Markus] Babbel made it 2-1.”
Carra also shared that the referee at that time gave away a penalty which never was one but it was McAllister who came up to save the Reds and how important the win was for the Merseyside club.
“You think the dream of Champions League football is over and Gary McAllister puts a free-kick in from 40 yards and we go berserk. The celebrations after the game were big because we’d just lost to Leeds, who were Champions League rivals, and we had 10 men.”
The Reds will need to be at their best if they are to claim another three points and keep the pressure on Chelsea but Everton will make it tough and the crowd at Goodison will certainly be hoping the Toffees pick up the three points.
