This is the one Wayne’s been waiting for... and he’s got Klopp worried

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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 response, as he pointed out his regret at not scoring in the Merseyside derby before he left Goodison Park to join Manchester United in 2004.

Back then the feeling was that Rooney, 32, would be rejuvenated and the Toffees would be tussling it out with Liverpool at the top end of the table.

But with Everton struggling, England and United’s record goalscorer has failed to really recapture his best form after his Old Trafford career fizzled out.

There have been flashes of his finest, last week’s stunning hat-trick against West Ham was the standout show among the eight goals he has scored since he returned to his boyhood club.

Judge

But now he is coming up against a red-hot Reds side, rather than the relegation-threatened Hammers, and will face a much sterner test in the midfield role Sam Allardyce has deployed him in. Kop 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 same player he once was. Klopp knows Rooney only too well after he scored the winner at Anfield two seasons ago. “It’s difficult for me to judge because when I was in Germany he was an outstanding player,” said Klopp. “I had no idea whether there was criticism in England or whether he didn’t get the credit for all the things he did for Man United and England. I have no clue. “Since I’ve been here, he didn’t have the best time at Man 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 Rooney as a person. I’ve always liked him as 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 the Toffees are to stand any chance of ending their winless run at Anfield, which stretches back to 1999, then Rooney will have to be on his game and possibly deliver that missing Merseyside derby goal.

His eagerness to impress has sometimes got the former England skipper into trouble on the pitch.

But new boss Allardyce has no concerns that he will let his emotions get the better of him on his return to Anfield.

In fact, he will look to Rooney to ensure there is no fear among his players as they take on Klopp’s inform side who have smashed in 15 goals in their last three games. “I know he’s back at Everton and it’s Everton versus Liverpool, but there have been lots of Man Utd versus Liverpool games that he’s been involved in and he has to use that,” said Big Sam.

“It’s very similar. As an Evertonian, he is desperate to do well, as he was when he was at Manchester United and desperate to beat them then.

“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. 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. But I hope we are not putting too much pressure on him.”