Jurgen Klopp has recalled his favourite Merseyside derby memory ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Everton on Wednesday evening.
Klopp announced on January 26 that he would be ending his nine season stay at Anfield in May this year – much to the fans’ dismay.
As a result, this evening’s fixture against Everton marks his 19th and final Merseyside derby before walking away from the club.
Therefore, Klopp was asked to recall his favourite Merseyside derby memory before kick off and his answer is far from surprising.
The German manager couldn’t help but grin as he recalled the time Divock Origi snatched a 96th-minute winner to see Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 in December 2018.
Jurgen Klopp has recalled his favourite Merseyside derby memory ahead of Liverpool ‘s Premier League clash with Everton on Wednesday evening
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The Belgium international, who was given the nod by Klopp in the 84th minute, headed home the winner home from close range after Jordan Pickford failed to clear Virgil van Dijk’s looping shot.
The goal helped Liverpool close the gap on the Premier League leaders Manchester City to two points – leaving the German manager grinning from ear to ear after the game.
When asked about the Merseyside derby in December 2018, Klopp said: ‘I remember that, definitely (most special one). That was a great moment. Last second of the game, when I saw it I could feel it.
‘It was outstanding. Nobody expected it we all thought the ball was out so it wasn’t. But you still had to be there and Div (Origi) had a nose for it. That was my best moment I think.’
Despite enjoying Origi’s last-gasp winner, Klopp did state he wasn’t particularly fond of the pressure associated with the Merseyside derby.
He told reporters ahead of the game: ‘The pressure is higher so why should the joy be higher? You win it, great, but why should I miss the pressure around it?
‘This time, when you’re really playing for something, that’s the pressure. But when you are both not in a great moment, it’s the one game you have to win, definitely. That kind of pressure – why would I miss that? It’s not enjoyable.
The German manager couldn’t help but grin as he recalled the time Divock Origi snatched a 96th-minute winner to see Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 in December 2018
The Belgium international, who was given the nod by Klopp in the 84th minute, headed home the winner home from close range after Jordan Pickford failed to clear Virgil van Dijk’s shot
The goal helped Liverpool close the gap on the Premier League leaders Manchester City to two points – leaving the German manager grinning from ear to ear after the game
‘Everyone else can only watch it and think ‘oh my God, it looks exciting’. But somebody has to make the decisions, somebody has to do this, somebody has to do that.
‘So many people visit me always around the games and say ‘we will not see that anymore or that anymore’ and I just want to tell you – I work all the time while you just come here and watch the games.
‘I’m constantly in it, even when the game is over I can’t switch off. It’s not great to be in this situation all the time. Maybe other people enjoy that more than me. But that’s something I definitely will not miss.’
The Liverpool manager went on to add: ‘I will never be able to watch a Merseyside derby without any kind of (emotion). I feel exactly the same as everybody else around these games, but as long as I’m involved, I have to be calm.
‘But if I am just watching it, then I will feel a different kind of emotion, definitely. I want Liverpool to win all of them, definitely. That means it’s important. I know so many people where the game means everything to them.’
The German manager finished by joking: ‘I don’t know when I can start enjoying watching football, we will see that. I might give it a try at the Euros!’.