Jurgen Klopp admits he can’t remember enjoying the thought of a Merseyside Derby as Liverpool prepare to take on Everton this weekend.

Liverpool host their neighbours in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime as the Reds look to bounce back from defeat at Spurs before the international break.

Liverpool have been dominant in this fixture and have lost just one Premier League Derby game at Anfield since the turn of the millennium, but Klopp insists his team’s past achievements count for nothing ahead of what he predicts will be an intense occasion.

“It is uncomfortable when you tell me about my record. I couldn’t be less interested in what happened in the past,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference.

“We aren’t thinking about this; we understand the importance of the game, the pressure. I can’t remember enjoying the thought of a derby.

“There is a lot of intensity before a ball is kicked. We have to channel that in the right areas, with all the extra motivation from outside, make sure you play the way you want. That gives you a chance to win.”

Everton have shown improvement to win three of their last four games in all competitions, while the Toffees – despite being 16th in the table – rank second in the Premier League for shots per game this season. Klopp was complimentary on this weekend’s opponents and believes Everton carry real threat.

“Dominic Calvert-Lewin is an important player for them, [Abdoulaye] Doucoure is back to his best, with [Jack] Harrison and [Dwight] McNeil on the wings. That is quality, real quality. [Amadou] Onana, [James] Garner], there is real talent; they have experience in defence. They have a really good team.”

Read – 10 unforgettable Merseyside derby moments

Read Also – Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend

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The post Klopp: ‘I can’t remember enjoying the thought of a derby’ first appeared on The Football Faithful.