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Hugo Ekitike has fired a warning message to Everton that he and his Liverpool team-mates are “ready for war” ahead of this weekend’s Merseyside derby.
Anfield plays host to the first meeting between the clubs this season, with both heading into Saturday’s Premier League encounter in good form. The Reds have won all five league and European matches this campaign, while the Toffees are unbeaten the last four in all competitions.
Often a feisty affair, the derby has produced no shortage of drama and excitement over the years, as was evidenced in the first meeting last season, which produced four red cards after the final whistle. Even the usually composed Arne Slot lost his cool and was among those to be sent off.
The Dutchman faced questions in Friday’s press conference about how Liverpool’s derby debutants will need to prepare themselves for such an occasion.
Ekitike is among those who could make a first league appearance against Everton, but he appears to already understand the importance of the match.
“I just watched some videos on YouTube and in that kind of game, people were just kicking each other,” the Frenchman told Stan Sports ahead of the encounter.
“It’s a dangerous game but it’s exciting because when I came here, they told me straight away about the derby.
“It’s really important and it’s the kind of game you need to be ready mentally. You go there to win. You play this game to win; we have to win against them. It’s going to be a tough game.
“We need to be ready for this war on Saturday,” he added. “It’s going to be a tough game, but I think we are ready to play this game.”
Ekitike could be in line to start, with Slot revealing Alexander Isak is feeling the effects of his first start in nearly four months.
The 25-year-old came into the XI for the midweek win over Atletico Madrid, but it may be Ekitike who lines up against Everton.
"We need to see how they all feel. What I do know is that Alex did feel his body maybe more than ever before after the 60 minutes he played,” said Slot.
"So let's see how he recovers today and then we are going to think about the line-up today and you will hear it tomorrow."
On what Liverpool’s players should expect in a first derby, Slot said: “We have to prepare them for that and of course maybe Virgil [van Dijk], Mo [Salah] and these kind of players will tell the new ones what they can expect.
“But we are not talking about rookies; it’s not like these players play for the first time in a full stadium or for a first time in these kind of games. If you talk about Florian [Wirtz], he has played so many special games in his career already and I can come up with all the others as well. Yes, it’s special but it is not miles off other special games they have played.”
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