after we allowed his request to
leave immediately and join Dutch
side NEC Nijmegen as head
coach.
Seeing Pep leave reminded me
again of all the fantastic people
at Melwood and across the club
who have helped me, my staff
and our families settle in here
in Liverpool. John Achterberg is
another example of this, although
I’m delighted to say he is still very
much part of our group and will
remain so.
It links into Virgil’s arrival
in many ways, because
regardless of the excitement
and expectation that greets
an arrival, the reality is that as
a human being you need great
people around you to help make
things work. You need people to
care about your situation and
want to help. We – and by that
I mean Zeljko, Peter and slightly
later on Andreas, Mona and Chris
- have been so blessed to have
been helped and supported
since arriving from Germany by
the brilliant staff who work for
and run this amazing club.
Tonight’s match represents
the final leg of what I think is
termed the ‘festive period’ in
this country. After tonight we
have nine days until we play
again. This will feel strange but
welcome, given the schedule
we have faced.
I cannot praise the players'
attitude and professionalism
enough for how they’ve been;
words I can think of in English
would not do it justice. The
supporters see the outcome
in performance and result on a
matchday. Me and my staff see
what comes to create that: the
day-in, day-out graft and effort.
Performance is the mother of
the result, but the performance
level comes from the yards that
are put in away from the TV
cameras and the stadiums.
Anyone who saw our games
against Leicester and Burnley
would have to be extremely
biased against us not to admit
we deserved to win both
matches. But this season
there have been plenty of
occasions where we have not
got the points our dominance
warranted. That has been our
only frustration in the first half
of the season – that many of
the draws we had should and
deserved to be better.
I welcome Sam Allardyce,
his players, staff, officials and
supporters of Everton back to
Anfield for the game tonight. It
hasn’t been that long since we
were all here together.
Everton have been really
strong since Sam arrived and
this is no surprise to anyone who
knows his quality and leadership
of football clubs.
Our game here in December
had a number of talking points I
would say, but they are probably
best left alone in this moment.
What is absolutely clear is
that the circumstances of that
game will have zero influence
tonight. This is a new game,
a new challenge, with new
circumstances.
The schedule and the impact
on both teams, allied with the
fact that it’s likely but not certain
that both starting line-ups will
be different in some way, means
this game should be viewed in
it’s own right – not a continuation
of the league encounter.
Sam will have his team focused
with the highest of motivation for
this. His players will be extremelyhungry to end our involvement in
this season's FA Cup.
Derby matches are wonderful,
intense occasions at the best
of times – but add in that this
is in a knockout competition
and under the lights, so early in
the New Year, and that means
both teams will recognise
the importance and emotion
involved a game like this one.
With such a big following
coming from ‘across the park’,
the atmosphere inside Anfield
will be different as well. Their
numbers are greater than for
the league game, but I know that
will only inspire our supporters
even more for the job they have
to do tonight.
I think back to the Leicester
game on the 30th and the away
end at Turf Moor on the 1st of
January and remembering the
noise and encouragement the
team got from our supporters
sends a tingle down my spine.
They gave our players the extra
yard – the extra spring – you
need when facing the highest-
quality opposition, against the
backdrop of a schedule designed
to test every facet you have.
Anfield needs no team-talk
tonight. It knows it can play
its part in helping us get the
job done – and for that we are
always grateful.
You’ll Never Walk Alone
JürgenThe last derby has
no bearing on tonight