Today's Merseyside Derby may have ended goalless, but it was certainly still an entertaining watch for the neutral. It may not have the same level of bite and nastiness that the ties would have had years ago, but that competitive edge between Liverpool and Everton remains.
Two players who have experienced their fair share of Merseyside derbies are Jason McAteer and Andy Gray. The pair were both on punditry duty for beIN Sports for today's clash between the rivals, recalling tales from their days in the fixture.
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Andy Gray spent two years of his career at Goodison Park between 1983 and 1985. Speaking before the game kicked off, he said that he "loved" playing in the derby against Liverpool.
Presenter Richard Keys asked Gray whether he "smashed a red" during his Everton days to which the former Scotland international replied with "Oh yeah, plenty".
My first one was Jockey (Alan) Hansen, Jockey got it first in my first derby. We were getting beat 1-0 at half time, Rushy (Ian Rush) surprise surprise I think had scored. I never understood the derby how we were so submissave against Liverpool. It was always like 'you're better than us' and that was the attitude from Everton then.
I went into half time and I was like 'why don't we get into this lot' . So I think early on in the second half, I let Jockey have it early on and it seemed to lift everybody a little bit and we got a 1-1.
Jason McAteer on his Merseyside Derby experiences
Jason McAteer then proceeded to tell a story about Duncan Ferguson grabbing him by the throat in the opening minutes of a Merseyside Derby.
It was an early kickoff and big Dunc was playing and he used to stand in the tunnel and stare big Dunc. I was looking at him and I was like 'Oh he's up for this'.
Then Incey (Paul Ince) came out with no shirt on as he does, screaming as he walks down the line to take his captain's position at the front with no top on. Then we go out and two minutes into the game, Dunc, a ball goes up, he backs in and I go to the ground and he turns over.
He's got me by the throat and literally strangling the life out of me.
Two more minutes, I would've had him!
"He's got me by the throat!"
The friendly derby? 🤔
Andy Gray & @MCATEER4 share some feisty tales from Merseyside Derbies of the past! #beINPL #EVELIV 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/Yc4wKMQjpq— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) September 3, 2022
McAteer would certainly have a number of stories to tell from his Liverpool days during the Merseyside Derbies that he played in over his four years at Anfield.
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