The irresistible force of Liverpool’s steady title tilt meets the immovable object of playing Everton at “The Old Lady” for the final time…

 

THE Old Lady, then.

She’s roared, fumed and very rarely had cause to dance. Especially when we turn up like the ex-lover, hated sibling or neighbour you can’t stand.

Like many in Liverpool, I was taken to both Goodison Park and Anfield as a child. I had nobody pushing me in Liverpool’s general direction, but I remembered the red of Liverpool feeling brighter – more romantic, I suppose.

Liverpool and Everton’s proximity to each other embodies how communal and village-like the city can be.

It’s geographically tiny, but there’s also a sense that you understand it better as a result.

Tomorrow will be the very last time Stanley Park separates this fixture. That is unless the rainfall fails to subside and Bramley Moore ends up floating away on the river Mersey.

Goodison has thrown up every single memory imaginable. Ian Rush scored five, Gary McAllister and Sadio Mane all compete for first prize from the good. Jürgen Klopp’s last whimper there, Andy Johnson in 2006 and one of Roy Hodsgon’s many nadirs the lows. We’ve generally had it better than them on their own patch.

It’s fascinating that Klopp had a distinctly average record at Goodison Park. More, he was probably his most conservative self in selection, approach and management of a game.

It’s telling when the most culturally aligned manager of our time felt he could never fully cut loose or trust the fixture to align with probability.

And so we go into tomorrow – Storm Darragh prevailing – with the same sense of trepidation and danger of self-sabotage.

Everton’s worst incarnations can make this horrible. They’re not as bad as results suggest, but they have a big problem with the occasion.

They have to manage any fanfare of Goodison Park’s last derby, coupled with the continuous reality of the Everton support simply not liking their team or manager very much.

I’m not being facetious, more outlining a potential advantage that if Liverpool settle down early and tap into that internal dislike, the afternoon will be far less tempestuous.

Sean Dyche has probably rewatched Newcastle’s third goal like a funny meme since Wednesday night. Everton will plan to test Caoimhin Kelleher’s catching at the earliest opportunity.

Expect them to be looking for fouls, throw-ins, corners. Expect the ball in the air and the dogs to be of war persuasion.

Arne Slot won’t be bowed. He has cut a figure of tranquility with every new stadium he’s visited. With every step off the team coach or shaking an opponent’s hand.

Tomorrow he gets to be part of the last Goodison derby. He gets to feel the dislike at close quarters. All narrow tunnels, sirens and James Tarkowski.

We have to endure it one last time. Everton away is something to get through, not to savour. Am I giving them too much respect? Probably, but that’s the point.

Liverpool are top of the league. It becomes a game to win, an obstacle. Our players must embrace the occasion, get in a scrap and not avoid one. Trust their quality to shine.

You can expect us to win, but the conditions play a part. They always did. A new stadium might be easier. The city will still be within reach regardless.

The Old Lady will demand one last and rare moment of pure joyous revel in our demise. We’ve never lost a league at Goodison Park, we won’t tomorrow.

Last game, same priorities: give them nothing.

Prove that ours was always the true romance.

Dan


Buy Dan Morgan’s book ‘Jürgen Said To Me’ on Klopp, Liverpool and the remaking of a city…

Jürgen Said to Me: Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool and the Remaking of a City

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