Big pals Gueye and Mane don’t speak during derby week

Senegal we travel together too. And if the game is in our own country we always fly together from Manchester to Paris on the way to Dakar

“But one week before the derby we always stop talking.

“We don’t send a message and we don’t call. We like to play this game, like we are supporters. He tells me before the game, ‘Don’t call me’ and I say, ‘OK, no problem’.

“We can start talking again after the game and if we win I will call him straight away.

“After he scored in one game in his first season he came to me afterwards and said maybe next time you will win. Hopefully the next game it will be my turn to do that.”

After clattering Mane last season, Gueye knows what to expect if he does the same today with all of Senegal watching.

He said: “The last time we played against Liverpool I tackled Sadio hard and I received a lot of messages from Senegal saying, ‘don’t injure our players, he is one of us’ so they watch for sure.”

Gueye’s friendship with Mane runs deep. That’s why the Everton star was quick to rush to his side when Senegal fans turned on the £34million Liverpool striker for missing chances during an African Nations qualifying game against Equatorial Guinea two weeks ago.

Mane was distraught and in tears at the final whistle as fans booed and taunted him.

Gueye revealed: “I tried to talk to him, but after that game he was upset and didn’t want to talk to anyone, he just wanted to be by himself. I knew it was difficult for him. He’s a good player and a big player for Senegal and he knows what he has to do.

“There is big pressure on him when he plays for Senegal. He is one of our best players so people expect a lot. They see him doing good things for Liverpool, so they want him to do the same for Senegal.

“But it’s not the same team and it’s not the same conditions, so it’s difficult for him.

“He is doing well for the national team, but they expect more and more from him.”

Toffees fans will expect more from Marco Silva’s team today as Everton bid to end a shocking Anfield record.

Everton haven’t won on enemy turf since 1999 when Walter Smith was manager and Kevin Campbell scored in a feisty battle producing three red cards.

Sam Allardyce masterminded a 1-1 draw last season but Gueye hints that Everton will be more positive and aren’t worried about their poor record. He said: “Every manager has his own way to play so Marco has his way to keep the ball and the way he likes to play football.

“We are a different team now. Last year was different. We were in a little bit in trouble and needed points. This season we are getting better. We go there to win and take the points.

“The only thing that will motivate us is to take the points. We’re not worried by the past, we just want to concentrate on our good form.

“It’s not my job to say how we have to play against Liverpool. That’s up to the manager he will give us the key if we are to attack or defend. I don’t know, we will have to see.

“If he says we attack then we will go for it and give our best to try and win the game.”