Jurgen Klopp was in confident spirits as he discussed Liverpool’s Saturday lunchtime trip to Goodison Park to take on Merseyside rivals Everton.
The Reds make the short trip across Stanley Park buoyed by an emphatic 3-0 win at home to Man City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday night.
Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane were the goalscorers at Anfield, but Klopp could field a much different side in the 231st Merseyside derby.
With City to play again on Tuesday, Klopp is likely to make changes, but speaking to reporters at Melwood on Friday afternoon he remained bullish over his side’s chances.
“None of them were easy, it’s always difficult,” he said of his previous derbies in charge.
“You wish you could prepare for a game like this with one week’s training.
“The derby is the most important game for all the people so that’s how we have to take it.
“In this very special game we have to show up. Nobody cares how difficult it is, we have to deliver—and we know that.”
Klopp also provided an update on the fitness of his squad, with it still unclear whether Salah will feature, saying “[there are] still 24 hours to go until we start. Let’s see what happens.”
And the manager discussed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain‘s development, explaining how “sometimes it’s only about changing the circumstances [for a player].”
Insisting their focus is on their weekend exploits despite a pivotal second leg at the Etihad to come, the Reds will be eager to produce a strong display on the road.
Yet to suffer defeat in five clashes with Everton (four wins, one draw), Klopp can hope to keep his excellent record going.
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