Friendly derby? Forget it raps Toffees legend Reid

PAUL HETHERINGTON 90-odd minutes. Reid added: “I never found it friendly. It was always a battle.

“I once caught John Barnes with a late tackle at Anfield and the Liverpool fans were on their feet, giving me terrible abuse.

“One voice was louder than all the others and I recognised that voice. It was my Uncle Arthur – a Liverpool fan.

“The atmosphere was hostile but afterwards there was respect, handshakes – and a pint.

“Whether the Mersey derby is what it was from a playing point of view is a good question.

“There are more foreign players involved now and fewer local lads and players who have come through the ranks.

“You haven’t got players like Graeme Souness and Steve McMahon putting themselves about and Ronnie Whelan putting his foot in.

“But in the eyes of the fans it is what it always was. I know exactly how they feel and that will never change.”

Reid’s favourite derby memory is the 1984 match at Anfield, which Everton won 1-0.

“Graeme Sharp scored an absolute screamer. It gave us our first win at Liverpool for 14 years and we went on to win the title,” Reidy recalls.

“That result gave us the belief that we could do just that. We, the players, believed it and so did the manager – Howard Kendall.”

So how does Reid see the latest instalment of Everton-Liverpool rivalry developing?

He admits: “Liverpool are favourites but I’m feeling a lot better about it than I was.

“That’s because of our win against Arsenal the other night. That was a big result.

“It means Everton will go into the derby on the front foot and it’s going to be a high-tempo game.”

And Reid has a warning for Liverpool and their manager Jurgen Klopp.

He says: “Everton have a fine record at Goodison Park – particularly when it’s a night game.

“Those occasions at Goodison are special. The atmosphere is something else.

“It was like that in my playing days and it is like that now. So I am pleased this match is being played on a Monday night, rather than a Saturday afternoon.

“It might just make the difference for Everton. And I can tell Liverpool they’ll find that atmosphere hostile – and not particularly friendly.”