Emre is well-versed in derby
tradition. His Bundesliga debut
for Bayern Munich came in
April 2013 in the Bavarian derby
against 1.FC Nurnberg.
His first three Merseyside
derbies all came at Goodison
Park, before he starred in
Liverpool's 3-1 Premier League
defeat of the Blues at Anfield
last April.
“Derbies are always special
and I think they are pretty much
the same all over the world,”
he continues. “You do become
aware of the extra anticipation
leading up to the game, although
we've had so many matches
between the draw being made
and this tie taking place that it
has been difficult to think too
much about it.
“On game-day, though, you
always feel that excitement
at the ground and that extra
intensity when you go out to
warm-up before the game and
so on. You can win or lose other
games but the fans will talk all
season about the derbies.”
The German international was Words:
William Hughesan unused substitute for last
month's league clash which
finished with the spoils shared
as Wayne Rooney's second-half
penalty cancelled out Mo Salah's
superb opener.
“We must learn from our
experience that day,” he says.
“Yes, we can say that we
were the better team, that we
dominated the game and that
we deserved to win and things
like that, but the fact is that we
didn't and that can happen in
football. The game is sometimes
like that but the good thing is
that we have another chance
very soon afterwards and
we want to show the same
dominance in the game but this
time gain a different result.
“I was on the bench for the
Premier League game and of
course you always want to play,
especially in derbies. I hope I can
play in this one but, of course,
everybody in our squad will be
feeling the same way.”
Emre turns 24 next Friday and
last month played his 150th
game for Liverpool when helined-up against West Bromwich
Albion here at Anfield. “It's a big
honour for me to play so many
games for the club in just three-
and-a-half years. Reaching that
milestone is something that I
am very proud of. Not too may
people play that many games for
a club like Liverpool by the age of
23 and you can't do that if you
are not a good player.
“I'm very thankful to all the
trainers, the manager and all the
staff here for the part they have
played in helping me to achieve
that because without them it
wouldn't have been possible. I
am also thankful to my family,
of course. As I say, it's a big, big
honour. But I am always my own
biggest critic and although I am
pleased with my development
in these past three-and-a-half
seasons I know there are a lot of
areas that I can still improve.”
He remains in that self-critical
mode when asked to assess his- “It was good, but it could
have been better. Overall I think
I have again moved forward
in my career. I played some
good games and continued to
improve. But, like I say, I know
there is still a lot I can work on.
There were some very good
moments both with Liverpool and
Germany.
“The goal at Watford will stay
with me because I haven't
scored many beauties like
that. I think a lot of people will
remember it for a little while too!
I also won the Confederations
Cup with the Germany national
team in the summer which was
very nice and an important step
for the team.”
The no23 is enjoying life in this
exciting Liverpool side under
Jürgen Klopp and relishes the
physical demands placed on
the midfielders.
Emre's own reserves have
been tested in the past couple of
weeks – he is the only Liverpool
player to have started all four
festive fixtures from the draw at
Arsenal a fortnight ago to the win
at Turf Moor on Monday.
“It's true that there is a lot of
running required in the system
Celebrating his bullet-
header goal at Brighton