Ben Godfrey has revealed that the Merseyside Derby was his favourite game growing up and insists that the intensity of the fans’ feelings is what makes playing for Everton special.
The Blues go into tonight’s fixture against free-scoring neighbours Liverpool without a victory from their last seven matches.
Following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at newly-promoted Brentford, a fifth loss in the last six games, Everton’s players were barracked by their own frustrated supporters when going over to acknowledge them after the final whistle.
Godfrey insists that he feeds off the emotions of those in the stands, though, and told Everton’s website : “The passion of our supporters is what I love most about this club.
“Football is an enormous part of people’s lives in the city and the fans care so much about Everton.
“That depth of feeling creates the atmosphere and intensity at our matches and it is special to be involved in it.
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“As a footballer, it is everything you could want, to play for a club where people are so invested in your performances.
“I had an idea of the club’s values before I joined. The Merseyside Derby was my favourite game growing up and if there was a match at Goodison Park on TV I always watched because I loved the sound and emotion of the place.
“It is a magical feeling when you’re on the pitch knowing the Evertonians have your backs.”
A £20million signing from Norwich City last October, Godfrey was handed a baptism of fire by making his Everton debut in the corresponding fixture against Liverpool last season.
However, coronavirus-induced restrictions ensured that was the second Goodison Park Derby of 2020 to be played behind closed doors and he acknowledges this will be a rather different occasion.
Godfrey said: “People often want to talk to me about making my Everton debut in a Merseyside Derby. What a privilege that was – I came on early at right-back and it capped a whirlwind two weeks.
“I signed for Everton a fortnight earlier but almost immediately went away with England Under-21s. I had only a few days training before the game last October but it was enough to discover what it meant around our building.
“There was a special vibe during the build-up and in training.
“I was under no illusions about the size of the fixture, even without fans in the stadium. You never know how long you’ll have to wait for your chance after arriving at a new club. To have it so early and on such a big occasion was fantastic.”
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The 23-year-old added: “I can’t wait for this derby in front of a packed Goodison, when you’re a kid desperate to become a footballer the games you imagine playing are always in loud and partisan stadiums, with the fans and players in unison.
“Liverpool are a very good team, there is no getting away from that. They play with speed and intensity and have some incredible players.
“But we don’t get drawn into thinking too much about our opponents. Our tactics and approach change depending on who we are facing, which is normal, and we’re capable of making subtle adjustments from game to game.
“We have a manager who is excellent at communicating his messages quickly and clearly and we’ll know exactly what’s expected from us on the night.
The priority is to take care of what we are doing and back ourselves. There is real quality in our dressing room and in the early part of the season we were very effective on the counter-attack.
“If we get it right, staying compact and disciplined and breaking with the speed of Dimi and Andros and Anthony, it is something teams fear. That’s not to say we’re going to be one-dimensional, far from it, but it’s an example of how we can hurt sides.
“We showed our character in the most recent derby, going to Anfield and winning, and we’re confident in our ability.”
