Klopp wary of Mersey derby rivals

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accepts Everton pose their biggest threat in the Merseyside derby for some time and the Reds’ 19-year unbeaten Anfield record counts for nothing.

The Toffees have not tasted victory across Stanley Park since Kevin Campbell’s solitary strike in September 1999 but Klopp feels Marco Silva - who has won one and drawn one against his German counterpart as boss of Hull and Watford - has the squad and the style to pose a realistic threat.

And no amount of history - Liverpool have not lost a derby for a record 17 matches - will alter that.

“If you wouldn’t say that I wouldn’t even think about it. How can I know what people make of that? I’m a not bit interested,” he said.

“You cannot make anything with these results in the past. It is good that we won these games or got results from these games, the most exciting one was the late winner of Sadio (Mane) at Everton - that felt unbelievable.

“There were good games we played at home to Everton but we have to make sure as a club we create an atmosphere so exceptional it will make it a little bit easier for the players to have a fighting mood.”

The last three Everton managers to visit Anfield in the Premier League - Roberto Martinez, Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce - left with, respectively, a 4-0 defeat, a 3-1 defeat and a 1-1 draw.

However, significant investment and a change in playing style introduced by Silva have seen the Toffees move up to sixth in the table.

“He has the best squad. They brought in players he wanted. Richarlison, what a player he is, last year Walcott came in, this year Bernard came in, (Andre) Gomes, (Yerry) Mina. Since I am in (at Liverpool) Everton was always really busy but now it’s the best-tuned squad.”