Wayne Rooney shares bold Merseyside derby prediction as Liverpool gets 'dangerous' warning

Wayne Rooney has backed former club Everton to emerge from the Merseyside derby with a positive result, despite Liverpool having a 100 per cent record in the Premier League so far this season.

The Toffees travel across the city on Saturday, having also enjoyed a good start to the season: they have seven points from four games, putting them in sixth position in the standings.

After a slow start to the summer transfer window, Everton made some encouraging signings, with Jack Grealish in particular making a brilliant start to his loan spell at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton has not won in front of a crowd at Anfield since 1999, but Rooney is hopeful of a victory. If one is not forthcoming, though, he would settle for a draw.

Discussing Everton's apparently newfound confidence at the start of the new season, Rooney said: “I think obviously the new stadium has helped with that and I think the big thing is David Moyes coming back.

“He’s come back. He knows the club. He knows the culture of the football club and then I think the signings have been really good. They look dangerous now, Everton, going forward with Grealish and Alcaraz they look really dangerous going forward, Everton, and solid as well at the back.

“So yeah, I think Everton can go there and get something. They have to be at their best and defend as a unit and be hard to beat. But Moyes’ teams normally do do that. Hopefully we can get the three points... [I would] take a draw, [I would] take a draw.”

Rooney played in seven Merseyside derbies during his playing career, drawing four and losing three. Recounting his own memories from the fixture, the former England captain said: "I hated it. We didn't win many, so when you do win them, you've got to make sure you enjoy it.

"The build-up to the game, the whole week was horrible. Being around the training ground and, as an Evertonian, getting ready and preparing for the game and all the staff around the training ground who are Evertonians.

"You feel sick because if you lose the game Liverpool rub it in your face.

"When I went back the second time to Everton, I had to make sure I had all the TVs turned off and there was nothing on the TVs about the game, the build-up to the game, just to try and forget about it that week. Go into the game not worrying too much about it.

"It's a massive game, and if you win there's no better feeling."

Click here to read article