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Klopp ready for Merseyside derby

Cape Town - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is looking forward to his first taste of the Merseyside derby against Everton on Wednesday night.

Klopp revealed his players were already thinking about the massive encounter with the Toffees during their 2-1 Premier League victory over AFC Bournemouth on Sunday, before adding that the derby is always one of the special games in a season.

"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," Klopp told the Mirror.

"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."

The German also remembers his time with Borussia Dortmund during their Ruhr derby clashes with Schalke.

"In my first season [at Dortmund] in 2008, on our fourth matchday we played against Schalke. With no success at the club, the only game in the year everyone was really interested in was the derby," Klopp explained.

"In Dortmund they say the derby is more important than the championship. You can feel it around the game.

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

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