Sean Dyche reflects on his heated 2021 clash with Jurgen Klopp

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Everton boss Sean Dyche has opened up about his 2021 clash with Jurgen Klopp.

Everton manager Sean Dyche will face-off against Jurgen Klopp once again when his team travel to Anfield on Saturday.

The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool is always a raucous, passionate affair, and it will be no different this time around. There is also the added friction of the history between the two managers.

In 2021, when Dyche was at the helm for Burnley, he got caught up in a feisty half-time confrontation in the tunnel at Anfield. Burnley went on to win that match, and Dyche might even welcome an argument with the German this weekend if it means history will repeat itself to the same extent this time around. 

As quoted by the Liverpool Echo, Dyche was asked about the 2021 exchange in his pre-match press conference. The Toffees coach said, “every manager should be passionate about what they do. That sort of thing gets blown up. That’s the reality as I see out. There’s not a manager I’ve fallen out with. I’ve never had a problem with Jurgen Klopp. There is nothing wrong with showing a bit of passion and commitment to the cause.”

Everton need to stay cool

Given the history and importance of the fixture, tempers could flare at some point again on Saturday. Dyche has to ensure that he is able to keep a cool head. The £96,000-a-week manager must be able to transmit a sense of calm and composure to his players. Without that, his team stand little chance of getting a positive result.

Passion is good, but control is vital. Liverpool are too good a team to take on recklessly. Dyche will know that, and understand that the responsibility for instilling that necessary calm rests with him.

Of course, Everton are already underdogs heading into this match. However, they need to believe that they can pull off an upset. A win, or even just a well-earned point, would give the club a massive boost.

Defeat, especially a heavy one, at the hands of their fiercest rivals, would compound a difficult week which has already seen uncertainty and concerns arise around the prospective change in the club’s ownership.