Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum thinks the hostile atmosphere at Goodison Park this Sunday will only serve to motivate Jurgen Klopp’s team even more for the game.
Wijnaldum was interviewed by James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo ahead of the 233rd Merseyside derby this weekend.
When it was highlighted to Wijnaldum just how much the blue half of Liverpool would want to damage The Reds’ title charge, Wijnaldum said:
“Yeah, but we want to defeat them badly too.
“So it works two ways! I expect it’s going to be a big fight.”
Wijnaldum was asked about the kind of ‘welcome’ he is expecting from the Everton fans. The Dutch international said:
“It will be a totally different atmosphere to a normal game, but we go there to play football and to hopefully enjoy it.
“You use it to spur you on. It’s great to win there. My first year here we won there. Then last year we had two draws in the league against Everton, and we beat them in the cup.
“In the derby, their fans expect a lot from the players, they will support the players on the pitch. It’s a different game to the others.
“This one is separate from all the other ones. I don’t think the last couple of games count because of the atmosphere, the fans, the way everyone hypes this game. The supporters really want to win this game, and so do we.”
Sunday’s game is a huge fixture for Liverpool as they look to maintain their slender one-point lead ahead of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds returned to flying form on Wednesday night, beating Watford 5-0.
To see our predicted lineup for the Merseyside derby, please click here.
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