THERE surely hasn’t been a more depressing on-the-field build-up to a Merseyside derby in living memory but the respective woes of Everton and Liverpool just make both sides even more desperate to win.
In the past four days, Rafael Benitez’s side have failed to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in the Spaniard’s Anfield reign while David Moyes’s men produced arguably the worst performance in the Scot’s Goodison tenure at the KC Stadium, going 3-0 down to a poor Hull side within less than half an hour ensuring even a fightback after the interval was not enough to prevent a 3-2 defeat.
The Government’s rejection of Everton’s controversial Destination Kirkby plans at least means there will still be two teams in the city to contest a genuine derby for the foreseeable future.
While the club’s hierarchy undoubtedly view that decision as a major blow, the verdict also came as a big relief to many Evertonians whose guts wrenched at the prospect of being forced to relocate outside Liverpool’s boundaries.
Passions have always ran high in this city – particularly concerning football – and outsiders coming to Everton and Liverpool tend to be given a crash course in Mersey etiquette when it comes to the rivalry between the two institutions either side of Stanley Park.
Everton’s £6.2million new boy John Heitinga, the most expensive transfer in the Premier League on September’s deadline day, is no different.
The Dutch international reveals that he no longer drives his red car to training at Finch Farm and said: “Red is a colour that you will never find at this club. Red is the colour associated with Liverpool, the big rivals.
“After I signed for Everton, David Moyes and I walked past a gallery of derby pictures when the manager stopped and said: ‘This is the match of the year. Just don’t you dare slip to defeat!’
“I like derbies a lot. I don’t know what to expect on Sunday, but people who know all about it have told me that it will be pandemonium. I love it.
“I know Liverpool are a big club, while Everton are supported by the ‘common people’.
“We are not having the best of seasons but a win over Liverpool would wipe out our stuttering start.”
Heitinga, who played for Atletico Madrid against Real Madrid last season, added: “As soon as we arrive at the stadium or the training ground, fans start to talk bout the derby and emphasise once again its importance.
“Liverpool are big and have fans all over the world, but Everton are not inferior to them.
“The stadium is filled to capacity when we play at home and the travelling section is full of fans when we play away. “Everton are a respected club with a great tradition, but its been a while since they won trophies.
“Just look what great players rose through their ranks. “Wayne Rooney for example was educated here. I read in one of the newspapers that he will allow his little son to play for one club – Everton. I feel proud to wear the blue shirt.
“Everton may not be a top European club at the moment but I was not forced to defend my choice of joining them to my friends and acquaintances.”
After spending most of his life at Ajax, coming through the Amsterdam club’s fabled youth ranks, Heitinga arrived at Everton via a season with Atletico Madrid.
