Rocky film inspired Jurgen Klopp to last-gap win in first Goodison Park Merseyside derby as Liverpool boss

When Merseyside derby day arrives in the football calendar, all eyes shift to northwest England with anticipation and intrigue.

Liverpool and Everton contest the country’s longest-running rivalry in top-flight football, one where defeat is a bitter bill to swallow.

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The red corner have won 99 of the 244 meetings against their foes in blue since they first fought in October 1894.

One of the derby’s most successful managers was Jurgen Klopp, who managed to beat Everton on 11 occasions as Liverpool manager.

His first attempt at securing the Merseyside bragging rights ended in a thumping 4-0 win at the Reds’ iconic home of Anfield in April 2016.

But before his touchline debut at Everton’s equally famed Goodison Park later that year, Klopp found a unique source of inspiration.

Michael B. Jordan stars as an underdog boxer in the 2015 film Creed, the seventh instalment of Sylvester Stallone’s legendary Rocky series.

One of the scenes shows Jordan, whose character is Adonis ‘Donnie’ Creed, fighting former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew.

Filming took place on the Goodison Park pitch during half-time in Everton and West Brom’s Premier League fixture in January 2015.

For devoted Toffees fan Bellew, the fight scene is likely to be forever etched in his memory and certainly a career highlight.

But with no prior experience at Everton’s home ground, Klopp cited it as a valuable insight into the atmosphere he was expecting.

In his pre-match press conference, he said: “Yesterday I watched the movie Creed and that was my first impression of Goodison Park.

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“It will be very special to be at Goodison for the first time. Even though the favourite is from Liverpool I had sympathy with the other guy.

“I was at Chapel Street with the staff at the Christmas party and when I came home there was nothing to do.

“I decided to watch a film and it was Creed. I didn’t know it was part of Goodison Park, a complete coincidence.

“When I was much younger I tried to use the story of Rocky IV, Ivan Drago and Rocky and that stuff, in a team meeting.

“And a few minutes into it I realised nobody knew what I was talking about. Rocky is a wonderful story. Maybe sometime I will go the steps in Philadelphia. But not this week.”

Creed appeared to have a positive influence on Klopp as his Liverpool side went on to win a dramatic 1-0 Premier League clash at Everton.

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Sadio Mane scored in the fourth minute of second half stoppage-time to spark jubilation from fans in the Goodison Park away end.

A flare was thrown onto the pitch as Liverpool’s heroes soaked in the celebrations before making their way out of the red smoke.

Although it was one to remember, the victory was the first of just two that Klopp oversaw at Goodison Park across eight visits.

His last Goodison Park outing was a 2-0 defeat in the latter stages of last season, one that damaged Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes.

But after Klopp ended his glittering nine-year spell in the summer, it’s his successor Arne Slot who will be tasked with making amends.

Merseyside derby and Goodison Park debuts are on the agenda for Slot in Wednesday night’s Premier League clash, live on talkSPORT.

The fixture was originally scheduled to be played on December 7 but adverse weather from Storm Darragh meant it had to be postponed.

Liverpool are now set to complete a short trip across Stanley Park from Anfield on Wednesday and do so as the Premier League leaders.

Slot’s side have only been beaten once in the league this season but will arrive off the back of a shock 1-0 FA Cup loss to Plymouth Argyle.

It ended their hopes of a historic quadruple although the 245th edition of the Merseyside derby offers a return to winning ways.

Furthermore, history would be made with a Liverpool victory as it would be their 100th against Everton in all competitions.

Slot remains a Goodison Park stranger for now but may see value in emulating Klopp by watching Creed for pre-match first glimpse.

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