Neven Subotic's header 3-1. Alex Frei, a famous striker in Dortmund, made it 3-2. After a long injury, I only had him on the bench in case I could give him five minutes but I had to bring him on at half-time. He scored an unbelievable goal from 25 yards. Then we got a penalty in the last minute to draw the game 3-3. It felt better than winning to be honest. It was the start of something. It was an important moment in the whole Dortmund story. It was easy to enjoy. JP: With so much pressure attached to Merseyside derby games, did you enjoy playing in them back in the 80s? KR: No, I didn't. JB: I was the same. KR: Times have changed. I was brought up as an Everton supporter. When Liverpool played Everton in our time I think it meant a lot more. A lot of lads were from the vicinity and everyone knew all about the derby. I actually think it meant more to the players back then. I think some of them treat it as just another game these days. I always remember Sylvain Distin saying that a few years back. JK: I don't think so. You're right that the biggest change is that there used to be more local players playing in the fixture. They knew naturally from the first minute of their lives about the importance of the derby. But now the public view is so big in this moment – that's where the pressure comes from. All my players know about the derby because they hear so much about it. They know the importance of this game. KR: Do you know the last time I was here at Melwood? It was 1978 when I played for Everton's A team, which was the under-17s/under-18s. The A team and maybe the B team played here. The reserves would then play at 2pm at either Goodison or Anfield and then the first teams would be playing the derby after. JK: All in one day!? KR: Yeah. You were waiting for the reserves result to come through at half-time. We already knew how the A and B teams had got on. The other question was: how many got booked? How many got sent off? It was more feisty then. You never saw too much of the ball in the first 20 to 30 minutes. If you were a midfield player you would have a sore neck. JB: They were real battles and then every so often a bit of football would break out. KR: The team that settled first more often than not came out the winners. JB: I remember playing in a mini derby before I played in the first team. We were playing at Anfield. They had a little striker called Warren Aspinall. Well, he kicked me and I completely lost it. I was fired up. I was told 'you have got to match everything they do'. The game was going on while I was just chasing after him! I booted him and he had to go off. That was how it was back then. You couldn't show any weakness. You had to stand up. I played in an FA Cup semi-final against Man United at Goodison in 1985 before I played in a Merseyside derby. Now that was really fierce. The ball ran out of play and as a I bent down to pick it up all these United fans spat in my face. My first derby against Everton was after the Blues had won the league in '85. It was the last game of the season and we were about to play in the European Cup final. KR: You battered us. But we won 1-0. Andy Gray was diving across people to stop them shooting and getting it in the chest. It was a ridiculous game. JB: Because of the circumstances with nothing riding on it that derby was like nothing in comparison to what followed. When I played in the derby early on in the 85/86 season that was different. That one really mattered. I really felt it. There was much more at stake. We went 3-0 up and then you battered us and we hung on for 3-2. KR: I remember Rushie bent down pretending to tie his lace, next minute he's been played through. I said to Ian Marshall: 'You were supposed to be keeping an eye on him!'. JK: Did the derby change at all after 1989? KR: Not on the field. The cup final that year after Hillsborough, it was a game we couldn't win. Everything on the day was all about Liverpool. We were just another team. That's how I felt as a player playing for the other side. I don't think it mattered who Liverpool would have played that day, they would have won. JK: Since I've been here I get the feeling that the rivalry was more aggressive between Dortmund and Schalke. For example, you wouldn't work for Dortmund if you were a Schalke fan. No chance. If you say 'okay, I'm good at this and this, can I work here?' They'd say: 'what club?' You say Schalke they say: 'thank-you, now go'. Dortmund to Schalke is 25km. In Dortmund itself, there aren't many Schalke fans but if you go 10km out there are a lot. As Dortmund manager, I lived in a street and my two neighbours were Schalke fans. They showed it every day, flying flags! If we lost to them the next day I'd see them and they'd be shouting: 'Morning!' When we won, they didn't say hello. Here I feel it's a little bit different. All the Evertonians I've met until now have been pretty friendly. KR: You have Blues and Reds living in the same house in this city. You get Evertonians who are brought up in Liverpool families and vice versa. JB: My brother is an Evertonian. We've always had that rivalry going on. JK: I've met some Evertonians in the street and they've been friendly. I've had taxi drivers who have been Everton fans. They've been really nice. JB: Wait and see what they're like if you beat them on Wednesday night! JK: (Laughter). At the beginning I thought 'okay, maybe they're happy I'm here because they think that means Liverpool won't have any success for the next 20 years!'
brilliant interview that... thanks luv. Klopp shut up in middle so i'd say he was utterly fascinated.
he's total opposite to rogers. nothing false, totally down to earth. a bit mad, bags of energy and enthusiasm. Rogers had that moment where the fat little **** could have stayed real but he dyed his teeth white, lost 3 stone and then got a arm slut and suits two sizes too small.. the cult of brent. Klopp lives the game. loves the work, has to be one of the hardest to work under but most enjoyable coaches.
getting worried now.... theres no teds article on the board for this one and that means we are jinxed.
Why does martinez think everton's away form is champions league form? In case you've missed this everton are 18th in home form but 7th away. It's only a couple points off lfc who are 4th best away form.
Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman will be definitely out of the derby. “We will assess Leighton Baines and TOm Cleverley. They are very close. James McCarthy is back in contention.
Because he's a ****ing goon, searching for excuses for his failure He admitted today that he's under pressure as the results aren't good enough. hes gone anyway come May so I'm not arsed about his Rodgers'esque waffle anymore
