Lovren: I am ready for my first derby
Dejan Lovren cannot wait to experience a Merseyside derby for the first time on Saturday afternoon – and the Liverpool defender is confident of a positive performance, personally and collectively.
The Reds welcome their neighbours and rivals tomorrow for their opening meeting of the new campaign, and are keen to bounce back from consecutive defeats in the Barclays Premier League.
Having had the chance to rest a number of his first-team players for the Capital One Cup clash with Middlesbrough in midweek, Brendan Rodgers is expecting the likes of Lovren to be re-energised.
The Croatian centre-back needs little encouragement for the battle ahead, however; he arrived at Anfield this summer with the knowledge already of what these fixtures mean to all concerned.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: "I can't wait. I know it's a big derby and there will be a lot of passion, especially playing at Anfield. It will be a tough game, for sure - Everton are a good team. But I'm confident.
"I already know about the derby - the passion, the fans - and I know it's something special. It means a lot to the fans when you win the derby.
"I know what to expect in the game and the atmosphere. When you play a derby, it is tough every time. But the Premier League is already tough. It will be like every game for me, I'm ready for everything."
Lovren witnessed the unique sights and sounds of a Champions League occasion at Anfield earlier this month as Rodgers' side saw off the challenge of a determined Ludogorets Razgrad.
The No.6 is anticipating a further rise in decibel levels and tension come the 12.45pm BST kick-off, though, as Merseyside pauses to decide which team can claim dominance this time around.
"It's something a lot different when you play in the Champions League," said the Croatia international. "But it's a derby and I think the atmosphere will be even better, with much more intensity."