England

Sean Graham

After the Premier League draw at Anfield (1-1), Liverpool and Everton meet again at the same venue for the tie of the round on Sunday in this season’s FA Cup. I managed to capture the thoughts of former Everton and Scotland winger and now media pundit, Pat Nevin.

Pat had played in one of the most famous FA Cup matches between the two sides, the fantastic 4-4 draw at Goodison Park, a match that will be forever remembered by both sets of supporters. He also scored the winner in the 1989 semi-final against Norwich City that took Everton to Wembley for an emotional final against local rivals Liverpool. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the tragic events that happened at Hillsborough, a time that will never be forgotten by anyone on both sides on Merseyside. Let’s hope that Sunday’s game will give the fans of both clubs a football match to remember for many years to come – just like that classic back in 1991.
 

    
After drawing 0-0 at Anfield, although many felt that you should have had a penalty when brought down in the box by Gary Ablett, Everton played Liverpool at Goodison in one of the classic matches between the sides. What can you remember of that match?
 
"It was one of the best if not the most exciting Merseyside derbies in my career. To tell it all would take thousands of words but certainly the atmosphere was great at the start and just built and built and built. On the downside I got clobbered by [David] Burrows in the first ten minutes and it slowed me down somewhat, but other than that it was fantastic to be part of."

 
Did you think that the team could come back from the dead four times?
 
"In a word NO. We were a pretty attacking side but Liverpool were special at the time, so the comebacks were extra special. By the time the fourth one went in it was almost expected it was such a mad night."
 

What were the reactions from both sides at the end, could the players believe what an exciting match they had actually taken part in?
 
"We were delighted because we had come back so often… Liverpool felt they had thrown it away time and again. Then of course there was all the stuff with Kenny (Dalglish) afterwards, arguments, resigning in the morning… we we definitely the jauntier on the way off…!"

 
What about the news of the resignation of Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, did this shock the Everton players and fans as much as it did the Liverpool players and fans?
 
"It did, but there was another game on the way so we just concentrated on that. Players have a great ability to compartmentalise, so we just prepared as usual for the replay and let them worry about it."

 
Do you think having home advantage in the second replay helped the Toffees?
 
"Probably, though my injury in the first game at the hands (studs actually) of Burrows ruled me out, so I had the torture of the stands. Even so they were the top team and as such still the favourites."

 
Everton beat Liverpool 1-0 at Goodison with a goal from Dave Watson, do you think this was particularly pleasing as Dave was a former Liverpool player?
 
"Yes! Waggy loved those games and was just the type of player and person you would want on your side on those occasions. He didn’t score many but those he did were celebrated wildly because all the fans and all his team mates liked and respected him so much."

 
Many things have happened to both clubs over the years, like the Anfield side beating their neighbours in two Cup Finals in 1986 and 1989. Besides the rivalry that separates the sides, the 89 Final was special for very sad reasons, as the tragic events of Hillsborough overshadowed the semi-finals and final itself. What do you remember of that particularly tragic time for the city, Pat?
 
"You can’t really give a pithy answer to that. It was a horrible time that had a few silver linings in the way that it brought the city together, but being at the funerals was the abiding memory. All those innocent people lost forever. We were playing in the other semi-final while that was going on and we knew nothing about it. I scored the winner and came off the pitch as happy as I can ever remember after a football game… seconds later I, like everyone else was as distraught as anyone could be.

I didn’t think the final should be played but the families of the dead wanted it to go ahead. It was a great game, going to extra-time. It didn’t really matter other than I suppose Liverpool had to win, though we fought tooth and nail to stop them, sometimes fate decides."

Do you think both clubs can provide a fitting tribute to derbies of the past?
 
"I was at the game on Monday and it was a tense affair. That wasn’t a classic and derbies usually aren’t but the intensity will be there as ever. I don’t think it should be thought of as a special tribute in many ways, the dead at Hillsborough are remembered always in the city."

 
Everton won the FA Cup back in 1995 when a Paul Rideout goal was enough to beat Manchester United, but since then the club has had some barren years losing to Shrewsbury (2003) and Oldham (2008). Do you think that Everton can progress in the FA Cup, and get a result at Anfield on Sunday without a recognised striker? Also without their record-signing Marouane Fellaini? After all it is 10 years since Kevin Campbell gave the long suffering Toffees fans something to smile about!
 
"Everton have had an extraordinary season already considering the injuries and the limited cash available to the manager, so who knows? To win a trophy you usually need a very special striker, and Everton have hardly anyone good or bad, that is fit. Fellaini is the big loss for me though, wow is he going to be very special indeed."


David Moyes has got his side well organised as Monday’s 1-1 draw proved, they never say die. What kind of a job is David doing at Everton?
 
"Brilliant, I am biased though as he is one of my all time favourite managers and of course we have known each other since we were kids at Celtic. Really, Davie would be capable of doing any management job in world football in my opinion."
 

You have played in big matches in your career, Pat. Where does the Merseyside derby rank, and can you explain what they are like to play in?
 
"Yes, it is fantastic, especially if you win and particularly if you score… I managed that once! You do actually feel as though you are playing in a game that is central to the planet’s focus at the time. Certainly that was the case in the 89 Cup Final. As for ranking, the great derbies are all fantastic, but lets say it just pips Kilmarnock v Ayr United in the Ayrshire Cup… but only just of course!"
 

Thanks for your time Pat, very much appreciated.
 
 
I would like to dedicate this article to the families who lost their loved ones at Hillsborough, they are looking down on you all from the Shankly Gates in Heaven. "You will never walk Alone!"