Klopp: Reds squad excited for Merseyside derby

Local bragging rights are at stake when the Reds take on city rivals Everton at Anfield on Wednesday in what is the manager's first taste of the famous fixture.

Klopp says his previous experiences as a manager mean he knows all about the importance of such games, and he is relishing the opportunity to take part in a 'special' occasion.

The boss told the Liverpool Echo: "This morning when we were in the dressing room and we spoke a little about Sunday's game at Bournemouth I don't think anyone was really listening!

"They are thinking about Everton. I'm okay with that. That's really cool. It's very exciting. It's important too.

"Derbies are always difficult to play because you have to handle the pressure. There's no advantage or disadvantage for either side.

"For me, I like these special games. I've been a manager since 2001. That's 15 years and each game is important. But with special games like this it's different from three or four days before it."

With the departure of stalwarts such as Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, local influence on the derby may have waned in recent years.

But Klopp does not believe that has affected the desire to win among his squad.

"The biggest change is that there used to be more local players playing in the fixture," he added.

"They knew naturally from the first minute of their lives about the importance of the derby. 

"But now the public view is so big in this moment – that's where the pressure comes from. 

"All my players know about the derby because they hear so much about it. They know the importance of this game."

The enmity between Liverpool and Everton is somewhat dampened by the fact that families on Merseyside are often split between Red and Blue.

And, in his six months in the city, Klopp has seen plenty of justification for the 'friendly derby' tag. 

"Since I've been here I get the feeling that the rivalry was more aggressive between Dortmund and Schalke," he explained.

"For example, you wouldn't work for Dortmund if you were a Schalke fan. No chance.

"If you say 'okay, I'm good at this and this, can I work here?' They'd say: 'what club?' You say Schalke they say: 'thank-you, now go'.

"Dortmund to Schalke is 25km. In Dortmund itself, there aren't many Schalke fans but if you go 10km out there are a lot. As Dortmund manager, I lived in a street and my two neighbours were Schalke fans. They showed it every day, flying flags!

"If we lost to them the next day I'd see them and they'd be shouting: 'Morning!' When we won, they didn't say hello.

"Here I feel it's a little bit different. All the Evertonians I've met until now have been pretty friendly."