Duncan Ferguson enjoyed a stellar record in the Merseyside derby when he first played for Everton and was fuming when Liverpool eventually got the better of him
Duncan Ferguson admits he absolutely lost it with former Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard after his perfect Merseyside derby record was ended.
The Toffees legend first played in the fixture in 1994 and went unbeaten for four years before leaving for Newcastle. He soon returned to Goodison Park and it was at that stadium that he tasted defeat against Liverpool whilst wearing blue for the first time.
The Reds won a thriller 3-2 in 2001 with Gary McAllister’s free-kick catching out goalkeeper Gerrard. He anticipated a cross but McAllister’s strike completed caught him off guard.
After the game Ferguson wanted answers and his No 1 explained that he was readying himself to take the ball into the box. The Scot, by this point fuming, was happy to remind his goalkeeper that he almost never came for crosses so why start now as Liverpool earned the bragging rights.
He was chatting with Jamie Carragher and told the Telegraph: “I was devastated how we lost that game and to lose my unbeaten record. I’d scored and was man of the match. I very rarely argued with the lads after a game or raised my voice. But I couldn’t help myself that day. I said to our keeper, Paul Gerrard: ‘What the f*** were you doing?’
“He said: ‘I was coming for the cross.’ I grabbed hold of him and said: ‘For f***’s sake, you’ve never come for a cross all f****** season!’ By then we were a bit jealous when you and Stevie came through. We wanted more of our own local lads with that fire. Warriors who could really play.”
Ferguson admits throughout his time at Everton there was an acceptance that Liverpool had the better players – so for them it was trying to nullify that. The Scot, known as one of the toughest Premier League players ever, doesn’t think he was a tough as people made out, but was happy to let the reputation go on.
He said: “We always wanted to turn it into a battle. I was that type of player. Liverpool had the better players so I never sensed any fear from them, but we never feared them, either.
“I felt against most teams I could use my physical strengths and whatever reputation I had to my advantage. You know how it works. You have a few good games and before you know it people are making out you’re the hardest person to walk the planet. I wasn’t, but as long as people believed that, there was a psychological advantage.”
Wednesday night will be the last ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park before Everton make the more to their brand spanking new stadium. They won this fixture 2-0 last term with the odds against them and their former player believes they can repeat the feat if they can turn the game into a scrappy affair.
Ferguson said: “They can do it if they set the tempo, put them under pressure, get on top of them, get the fans involved and defend for their lives. One of the defenders will have to be man of the match, but then they can nick it.
“An inswinging corner on top of the keeper and a headed goal would do, wouldn’t it? There is nothing wrong with winning a game like that. Everton can’t win the derby passing Liverpool off the park, can they!”
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