EXCLUSIVE
By David Lynch

Merseyside derby veteran Nick Barmby has backed Liverpool to mount a Premier League title challenge in two or three years and, ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby, believes the Reds will come out on top against Everton

The 38-year-old featured for both sides as a player, having made the controversial move across Stanley Park in 2000 following a four-year spell with the Toffees.

Liverpool finished below Everton in the league standings for the first time since 2005 last season although Barmby, speaking at the launch of Streetchance, a sporting initiative aimed at increasing youth participation in sport in inner-city areas, believes Brendan Rodgers’ side will soon be back on track.

He told Goal.com: “I think Everton will definitely be seeking a Champions League spot and I think for Liverpool this season will be a transitional period.

“It’ll be more of a season where they’re bringing young players through and getting a full season under their belt but in two or three years Liverpool will definitely be up there challenging for that title again.

“But if Everton beat Liverpool on Sunday it’ll open up quite a gap and they’d fancy their chances to finish above them.”

Liverpool have won three of the last four Merseyside derbies, the most recent an FA Cup semi-final victory at Wembley, and Barmby is adamant the Reds will snatch victory at Goodison Park.

“I think because of the way Everton are going into the game as favourites you always find the other team wins and I do think Liverpool will nick it on Sunday,” he added.

The former England international, who featured in six derbies, also gave his thoughts on what makes the fixture so unique in English football.

“The build-up sees a lot more press and it’s totally different to a normal game,” he said.

“You see fans in the streets saying ‘make sure you get one over on the red noses’ and it’s an incredible game to play. It’s the best derby I’ve played in, and I don’t say that lightly because I’ve played in some very good derbies, but the Liverpool-Everton derby is unique.

“You’re getting families divided for the day but they’re going to the game all together and they’ll sit next to each other, which I don’t think happens in any other derby in the world and is a credit to the people of Liverpool. Whether it’s at Goodison or Anfield the atmosphere is superb and it’s one of the best games you can play a part in.

“My first derby when I was at Everton was at Anfield and we drew 1-1 and Gary Speed scored in the last 10 minutes. I remember coming off the pitch and sampling the atmosphere, it was amazing.

“When I went to Liverpool and we won against Everton and I managed to score and we won 3-1, it was incredible the stick I got from Evertonians that day but you understand that and they never crossed the line.

“There were no vile chants, it was all good humoured banter but you expect that from the people of Merseyside because they’re very educated in their football.”

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COMMENT
By David Lynch

Merseyside derbies often serve as a reminder that it cannot have been easy to be an Everton supporter over recent years.

During these fixtures, the Toffees’ bitter rivals, Liverpool, often take great pleasure in reminding their neighbours of their 17-year trophy drought through the medium of song. The heartache of that long wait for silverware is perhaps made even worse by the fact that those who derive the most pleasure from it have seen their team lift the FA Cup twice, the League Cup three times, the Uefa Cup, the Super Cup and the Champions League during that period.

Of course, the Reds’ success over that era has been tainted by a failure to clinch the league title once, but that doubtless provides little consolation for the blue half of Merseyside. Even rare opportunities to get one over on their foes have been contaminated by the caveat of greater victories across Stanley Park.

In 2005 the Blues put together a remarkable league campaign which saw them leapfrog Liverpool and seal Champions League qualification for the first time in their history. But the story did not end there, as a Rafael Benitez-concocted miracle in Istanbul ensured that the Reds would have the opportunity to take their place in the competition again whilst basking in the glory of winning Europe’s biggest accolade.

Everton were rather unfortunate to come up against Villarreal, a side who went on to reach the semi-finals that year, in a play-off to reach the group stages, a task which was ultimately beyond them. Yet again this disappointment was multiplied, as Liverpool sauntered into the groups having easily dispatched the somewhat lesser threats of TNS, FBK Kaunas and CSKA Sofia.

David Moyes’ men repeated the feat of getting ahead of their more expensively assembled neighbours last year but their customary inability to truly one-up the Anfield outfit reared its head again. The Reds won both league fixtures between the sides before also going on to clinch a come-from-behind victory in the semi-final of the FA Cup at Wembley – the one which doubtless mattered most to the fans.

But, much like the days in which Merseyside’s biggest clubs dominated English football, those disappointments can now be consigned to the past. Everton have an opportunity at Goodison Park on Sunday, the chance to cement a shift in power.

Victory for the Toffees would hand them a nine-point lead over their adversaries in the Premier League which, despite being far from insurmountable at this early stage, would provide a steady foundation for a higher finish. To do so for the second year running, and this time having led Liverpool all the way, would be further proof that a swing has occurred.

Moyes would undoubtedly take great pride in such a transformation in fortunes being confirmed, having overseen many of the highs and lows in his 10-year spell at Goodison Park. Though his experience of these games may not all be good – having won just four of his 24 derbies in charge – the Scot’s superior knowledge against a fifth different managerial opponent in this fixture should help make his side favourites.

His opposite number, Brendan Rodgers, should also be mindful of the fact that only one Liverpool boss has ever posted victory in their first away derby match: A certain Mr Kenny Dalglish – who incidentally did it twice.

So it is time for Moyes to discard the fear which has overshadowed his approach to derbies in the past and which was most evident in last year’s FA Cup clash. Everton need not show any deference to their opponents, having surpassed them on the evidence of last year’s league campaign and the start to this one.

But it almost feels as though Everton must first believe that they are not inferior to Liverpool if they are to ever make it so. And that is a process which starts with the manager.

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EXCLUSIVE
By David Lynch

Dietmar Hamann has expressed his belief that Everton are closer to matching his former club Liverpool than they have been over the last decade.

The retired German starred for the Reds over a six-year period, helping them to lift the Uefa Cup, Champions League, two FA Cups and two League Cups, and featured in several Merseyside derby clashes.

And, ahead of the latest edition of the fixture on Sunday, Hamann opined that the game will be tighter than ever – but stopped short of claiming that the Toffees have surpassed their rivals.

He told Goal.com: “They’re probably as close as they’ve been over the last ten years. I wouldn’t say it’s a power shift as of yet but if they carry on as they’re doing and Liverpool haven’t really gone forward in the last couple of years then there could be.

“Liverpool have got to be on their toes and I think they’ve got the right man to do that but obviously they’re still two or three players short of being a top-four side. The early signs of Brendan Rodgers’ reign are good; I’m very impressed by what he’s done so far but the work David Moyes has done is also fantastic.

“It’s unbelievable what he has achieved there and the teams are as closely matched as they have been for a number of years.”

The former Germany international also revealed his favourite derby memory, which came in 2001 at Goodison Park.

He added: “We beat them at Goodison on a Monday or Tuesday night 3-2 when Gary McAllister scored with about three minutes to go.

“That was probably the best one because I don’t think we lost a game after that. It was the catalyst for us to do well because after that we ended up winning the Uefa Cup and the FA Cup and I’m not sure whether we would’ve done that if that goal hadn’t gone in.”

The 39-year-old went on to back the Reds to finish higher than their neighbours in the Premier League this year, adding: “I probably back Liverpool [to finish higher] because they’re just about to start picking up results. They’ve played against three top teams already so I’ll go with Liverpool.”

Hamann was speaking at the launch of Streetchance, a Barclays-led initiative which uses cricket to help disadvantaged children into sport, and he spoke glowingly of the work done by the organisation.

He said: “It’s a project by Barclays spaces for sport where kids get an opportunity to play sport – football, cricket etc – in a safe environment. It’s a great project to support because it tackles abusive social behaviour and youth criminality and the kids need to be given a chance to have these opportunities to play sport in a safe environment and it’s provided here.

“I’ve done things for the community while I was still playing and I do now because it’s something the players have got to support because it’s about the kids – they are the future.”

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