Rooney’s ready to break his duck
‘It’s about handling pressure’
WHEN Wayne Rooney arrived back at Everton in the summer he was asked what fixture he was most looking forward to.
“The Liverpool game” was his instant response as he pointed out his regret of not scoring in the Merseyside derby before he left Goodison Park to join Manchester United in 2004.
Back then the feeling was that Rooney would be rejuvenated by returning to his boyhood club and that the new-look Toffees would be tussling it out with Liverpool at the top end of the table.
Instead, Everton have been struggling, and England and United’s record goalscorer has failed to rediscover his best form after his Old Trafford career fizzled out.
There have been flashes of his finest, last week’s stunning hattrick against West Ham being the standout show among the eight goals scored this season.
But now he is coming up against a red-hot Liverpool rather than the relegationthreatened Hammers, and he will face a much sterner test in the midfield role in which new Everton manager Sam Allardyce has deployed him.
But Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is not overlooking the player who has taken more criticism than most over the latter part of his career, even if he is not the force he was in his pomp.
“It’s difficult for me to judge because when I was in Germany he was an outstanding, big player,” said Klopp.
“I have no idea whether there was criticism in England or whether he didn’t get the credit for all the things he did for Manchester United and England. I have no clue.
“Since I’ve been here, he didn’t have the best time at United but he still scored the winner against us. He’s still a fantastic player and he’s shown that.
“I’m not sure if it’s allowed, but I like Wayne Rooney as a person. I’ve always liked him as THE biggest Premier League games take place tomorrow with the Manchester and Merseyside derbies.
In Liverpool, we predict Jurgen Klopp’s Reds will take the points. At Anfield, they have conceded just two goals in seven games and are 3-10 to win, with Everton 9-1. At Old Trafford, City are favourites, 23-20 for the a player. I would be silly not to worry about him. But if you only worry about him that would be another big mistake.”
If Everton are to stand any chance of ending a winless run at Anfield that stretches back to 1999 then Rooney will have to be on his game and possibly deliver that missing goal in a Merseyside derby.
His eagerness to impress has sometimes got Rooney into trouble on the pitch, but Allardyce has no concerns that he will let his emotions get the better of him on his comeback to this emotive fixture.
In fact, he will look to Rooney to ensure there is no fear among his players as they take on a victory, with United 23-10 and a draw 12-5. United keeper David De Gea was outstanding in last week’s win at Arsenal and the Spaniard is 4-1 to make 10 or more saves against the most potent Premier League attack.
United boss Jose Mourinho is 10-1 to be sent to the stands, Pep Guardiola 20-1. It is 100-1 they both are.
BY JOE CRILLY
Liverpool side who have smashed in 15 goals in their past three games in the Premier League and Champions League.
Allardyce said: “I know he’s back at Everton, and it’s Everton versus Liverpool, but there have been lots of games called Manchester United versus Liverpool that he’s been involved in and he has to use that. “It’s very similar. As an Evertonian he is desperate to do well, as he was when he was at Manchester United and was desperate to beat them.
“They have a rivalry and while he was there Manchester United were better than Liverpool for the vast majority of the time.
“Everton is his club and he can use all that experience to deliver the kind of performance he gave against West Ham, and that would please me an awful lot.
“It would mean it would give us a chance to create and score a goal with that type of performance.
“We have to do it as a team but we want him to play a big part in that team performance, because he has the ability to create problems.
“I just hope that we are not putting too much pressure on him.” Liverpool generally take advantage of that. I’ve been involved in many derbies in my managerial career. This is two clubs in a city clashing together with great history and there is an atmosphere that is unique. It is about us handling that pressure and atmosphere and a team that I have to admit is probably in the best form since Jurgen arrived. “They have one of the best strike forces available in the Premier League, which we certainly have to master. “But if you show a good, positive attitude they then know they are in for a difficult game. “That is the most important thing – to deliver a performance tactically right to block off the areas Liverpool work in.” Liverpool’s Fab Four grabbed the headlines again in the 7-0 midweek thrashing of Spartak Moscow but Klopp insists it is disrespectful to his other stars to focus on those four. “I have no problem with nicknames like ‘Fab Four’ but it’s disrespectful against all the other players,” he said. “We played a fantastic game at West Ham and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was involved. We didn’t have Adam Lallana so far and he would fit fantastically in each boy group in this world. We also have Daniel Sturridge and Dom Solanke.” Mane could become the first player to score in his first three derbies. Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum said: “It’s normal people say he is one of the best in the world now. He has delivered for a long time.”