WE WON’T LET THEM INTIMIDATE US AGAIN
Kyle Walker’s battlecry as City return to cauldron of the Kop
KYLE WALKER was born in May 1990, the same month that Liverpool were last champions of England.
It is a sobering thought for those of a red persuasion given the Manchester City defender will be one of the older players on view at Anfield this afternoon.
His club have won three Premier League titles in seven years, while Liverpool’s last success remains when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.
The history adds to the anticipation of today’s big game, though Walker is keen it doesn’t spill over into the nastiness of City’s last visit to Anfield in April when their team bus came under attack from Liverpool fans chucking cans, bottles and pyrotechnics.
The coach route is being kept a secret this time to dissuade anyone from planning a repeat. ‘I kept my headphones on as normal and carried on listening to my music, the same as I do whether I’m going to Anfield or Oxford,’ says Walker.
‘They want to intimidate you but, if you let them, they’ve won before you are even at the ground.
‘For me it was motivation. Maybe they thought as fans they needed to do something to help their team in any shape or form but, if they’re trying to get under your skin, it gets your back up as men.
‘There is a lot of testosterone flying around and you want to prove a point. OK we didn’t quite do it on the night [Liverpool won the Champions League tie 3-0] but we have Sunday to put it right.’
The laid-back Yorkshireman isn’t letting thoughts about the next coach journey affect his preparations. ‘It’s out of the players’ control. Hopefully the police can stop it and make sure everyone is safe,’ he says.
The match doesn’t need hyping up in a football sense. Both sides have started the Premier League season like rockets and share an identical record of six wins and one draw from seven matches.
Liverpool have an advantage in that City haven’t won at Anfield since 2003 and have lost on their last six visits. On the flip side, their star man Sergio Aguero has scored eight goals this season compared to three from Liverpool’s talisman, Mo Salah.
Walker, who starred in the centre of defence for England at the World Cup but very much remains a rightback for his club, is happy to talk about both aspects.
‘It’s plain to see Liverpool were our bogey team last season [City lost three of four games]. But that has been and gone now.
‘I’d rather mark Salah every day of the week. I can assure you, having played against Sergio when I was at Tottenham, he was a nightmare to play against. You think he’s not interested in the game and all of a sudden it’s in the back of the net. He has that quality.’
Walker sees himself primarily as a right-back but acknowledges switching positions for his country has helped his all-round game. ‘I get to see more of the ball and it’s helped my confidence to put my foot on it instead of bombing up and down the flank all the time,’ he says.
Liverpool’s right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is tipped for a bright future as is Joe Gomez, who may be out to take Walker’s position in the England defence.
‘I think Trent is going to be a phenomenal full-back. I think he is going to be one of the best,’ says Walker. ‘Joe has come on leaps and bounds too.’