JURGEN KLOPP KNOWS what is at stake for supporters as the Liverpool manager eyes success in the Merseyside derby against Premier League rivals Everton.
League leaders Liverpool – a point clear atop the table – will travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in a fierce showdown on Sunday.
Former Mainz and Borussia Dortmund boss Klopp understands the value of derbies from his time in Germany, and he is determined to earn bragging rights for Liverpool fans.
“Look, I was seven years at Mainz and seven years at Dortmund,” Klopp said. “When I came to Dortmund the first three games were Cottbus, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke. Nobody spoke about the other two teams.
“You have to learn. It’s not my enemy. How could it be? Schalke was not my enemy when I left Dortmund. But I understood 100 per cent what it means to the people because I had my derby when I was 10 years old and played against the village next to us.
“We went to the same school and we went on the same bus. You want to win that game so desperately. That’s sports. I understand that but I don’t live that.
“… In the games, I know that we are like the tip at the end of the arrow for the people. We have to do it. They cannot win these games in the office. We have to do it on the pitch. We all understand it 100 per cent.”
Liverpool won the reverse fixture in dramatic fashion – Divock Origi’s last-gasp winner giving the Reds a 1-0 win over Everton at Anfield in December.
“Of course goals can change a season,” Klopp said. “It [Origi's winner] changed the mood, of course, the confidence, of course.
“It was a very important one, 100 per cent. That day and the games afterwards, it was unbelievable what the boys did.
“It created all our situations really. We were constantly in the top part of the table and then December changed a lot. That was very important.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool star and former Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk believes the Reds’ title pursuit gives them the edge against Everton.
“I’ve played in the Old Firm derby, which is really intense. When I played Rangers were lower level-wise than they are now, so it was pretty easy back then,” Van Dijk said. “But this is the Premier League and it’s totally different.
“It will be a game that can go either way and sometimes in these type of games it is who wants it the most. We are in a position where we definitely want it the most and hopefully we can show it on the pitch.”
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20 leinster
8 ulster
5 munster
4 connacht
The lads must not get petrol money to travel outside dublin to go watch the other 3 provinces,just goes to show where the development of the game going.
@Teadore Hungwell: or Leinster are at a much higher level on developing youth talent.
@Teadore Hungwell: @Teadore Hungwell: you think the best U20’s haven’t been picked ? Is 20/37 that odd given the rugby population of the Leinster province (and the actual population of 2.6m)
@BMJF: agreed, can not be good for the overall game of rugby provincially though ,bit like where Dublin are now last few years with GAA
@BMJF: Ulster’s population is comparable to Leinsters, Munster has half the population of Leinster. Proportionate to population Munster are maybe 1 or 2 light and Connacht are doing better than would be expected. But Ulster should have more.
@Darren Byrne: but only recently are you getting catholics playing rugby in ulster, so while the population is not far behind, the rugby playing pop is (but that seems to be changing)
@Teadore Hungwell: I don’t understand this mentality. Leinster have an exceptional system, from the age of 8 a sizable portion of the population are playing rugby at a club or in their school. Leinster have invested heavily in schools, developing coaching, refereeing, providing technical expertise, investing in facilities, not least the superb facility at Donnybrook, there’s also the schools cup, one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world, the culture of the cup is to a schools player / supporter what European cup is at provincial level, the standard is better than anywhere in the world outside New Zealand. Then you have an academy system that is modeled on that of Man City including incorporating sports science. Leinster is an anomaly that elevates Irish rugby. Hardly a bad thing.
@Teadore Hungwell: Seems to be a good few non Dublin Leinster players. Also, the coaches are mostly Connacht with Colm Tucker being Limerick. Stranger than the huge Leinster contingent is the zero Limerick players. Either a sign of limited population choosing hurling or poor development of youth in rugby.
Sean,
Any chance the42 would break it down by position?
Thomas Ahearn is Dungarvan not waterpark. Played with dungarvan up until under 18s.
@Ormond: nice to see 2 Waterford lads in the squad. Good for Munster in the long term if the county is involved. Well done to all their former clubs & coaches
@kieran horgan: Been a promising development-growth for Munster in what some might call non-traditional rugby counties such as Waterford and Tipperary recently which is good to see.
Keep an eye out for Andrew Smith, plays 15 or wing, has scored some spectacular tries throughout age grade. Here’s a sample of his finishing:
https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1170756649855979520?s=21
Soroka is Belvedere not Blackrock
Does anyone why John McKee went from Campbell to Leinster – just curious..
@nolamentor: Ulster viewed him as a prop but he wanted to play hooker. So he moved to Leinster.
@TREVOR JOHNSTON: I think Stewart is the better prospect anyway
@TREVOR JOHNSTON: That is very telling of where Ulster academy are in terms of developing players.
@nolamentor: Tom Stewart was coming through behind McKee. Stewart is heir apparent. Very grounded fella, should go far with his ability.
Actually 4 lads from the Exiles programme in the squad Josh Dunne (Connacht), Oran McNulty (Connacht), Hayden Hyde (Ulster) & Dan Kelly(Loughborough)
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