Speaking with the enemy - Dave Usher, www.liverpoolway.co.uk

By Administrator on Sep 26, 08 08:41 AM in Fans

What's your favourite derby moment?

There's been plenty. The most recent would be Gary Mac's free-kick in the treble season - that was as good as it gets I think. Total ecstasy for us and sheer gut wrenching heartbreak for them. Love it!

The1989 FA Cup Final is also up there for reasons not solely to do with football, but if I had to choose one it would be Rushy's second goal in the 1986 Final. We were 2-1 up having come from behind, and that counter attack that led to the third goal was a thing of beauty. When that went in we knew we had the double, so that one just about edges it.

And your worst?

There's been plenty of those too. I remember the game when Jim Begin broke his leg after a challenge by Gary Stevens. That was my first visit to Goodison and I was right by that incident and I felt sick for about an hour afterwards. We won the game, but my abiding memory of that night was seeing Beglin in agony with his leg bent the wrong way.

The 4-4 was pretty depressing as well, and the Blues had a spell under Joe Royle where they beat us a fair few times. More recently I remember Kanchelskis scoring twice at Anfield.

I think I'll go for the 1-0 in Rafa's first season when Carsley scored the winner. We were awful that day, and I was sat in with the Blues which made it an even worse experience.

Why are you a Red and not a Blue?

Same reason as most I guess. My dad is a Red and he took me to Anfield. I owe my arl fella for many things, but that is top of the list.

What do you make of Everton's summer buys?

I'm not even sure exactly who they bought. There was the South American lad who made some funny comment about joining a club with a great history of playing in the UEFA Cup or something.

Saha is a fantastic player when fit. The big one was the lad who looks like Screech from "Saved By the Bell", they paid £15m for him. I think he's a good player, but nowhere near worth that. Having said that, if he can score on Saturday that would be worth £15m and then some as far as most Blues are concerned, even if he never kicked a ball for them again.

Is there an Everton player you secretly rate?

Up until this season I'd have said Lescott. He's done well and is a big threat from set-pieces.

I like the two young kids Baxter and Rodwell as well.

Which Everton player can't you stand?

Cahill. I hate his face and his stupid corner flag boxing celebration. I don't think he's that good a footballer and certainly wouldn't get in our side, but in terms of arriving in the box late and getting goals he's probably the best around. I don't like Arteta either. His hair looks like it's been painted on and he looks like a waxwork dummy. He's too clean looking, it's not natural.

How do you rate David Moyes?

He's a good manager, and he's done a remarkable job. It puzzles me a little when I hear some of the phone-ins and there are Blues slating him and it's time for him to go. He has taken Everton to a fourth and fifth which staggers me, as I look at the squad he's had to choose from and I still wonder how they finished so high. It has to be down to the manager, so I'd say he's doing a hell of a job really, even though I think he's got a massive chip on his shoulder where Liverpool is concerned.

What has happened to the friendly derby?

I'm not even going to touch that one!

With Everton's defence playing the way they are, surely it's a chance for Keane to break his duck?

That means nothing. It wouldn't matter if they'd shipped in 10 goals a game all season, when the derby comes round they'd be ready. Stoke had been letting plenty in but still managed to keep us out at Anfield, so what Everton have done so far doesn't really have any relevance for me. As for Keane, he's trying a little bit too hard maybe and at the moment we seem to be struggling to find a way to get the best out of him.

How do you see the game going?

I think it will be very tight, and there will only be one goal in it either way. I expect that we will just sneak it, probably through a piece of individual magic by Torres or Gerrard. We really need to be careful from set-pieces, as Arteta's delivery is good and Cahill and Lescott will have to be watched. We can be vulnerable from dead balls, so that worries me. I think we'll just about have enough to win, but I wouldn't bet my house on it and I expect Everton to produce their best performance of the season so far, so we'll need to play well.

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