Rooney by no means received a Merseyside derby throughout his time at Everton, however he was concerned in lots of top-of-the-table matches in opposition to Liverpool for Manchester United, who, like Everton, additionally contemplate the six-time European Cup winners as bitter rivals.
Liverpool’s captain for almost all of Rooney’s time at Previous Trafford was his England team-mate Steven Gerrard, who Manchester United’s document goalscorer thought to be a buddy.
However Rooney spoke brazenly about his need to let the Liverpool midfielder really feel his presence after they performed in opposition to one another.
“We had been good mates off the pitch and each time I bought an opportunity I am pondering, ‘I will completely smash you’, and I did. He did the identical to me,” Rooney mentioned.
“You would not discuss to him earlier than the sport after which after the sport you shake one another’s hand.
“If there was ever an opportunity he knew [I’d challenge him], and I knew if he bought an opportunity he was going to do me, so that is what soccer is. You are enjoying on your membership and there is moments and massive gamers as effectively, particularly a Gerrard or a [Patrick] Vieira. Should you get a chance, you may’t let that slip, you have to take it.”
Rooney additionally namechecked one other England team-mate, Jamie Carragher, as a participant who used to wind him up in matches in opposition to Liverpool.
“There have been a few instances when Carragher was in your ear. Carragher preferred to referee the video games and the referee used to let him. He was continuous and he had that squeaky voice screaming down your ear,” Rooney mentioned.
“Generally as effectively, after we’re profitable the sport, perhaps 2-0 up, and I might ask Carra what he is doing tonight. Are you going out, the place are you going? After which he’d be the identical and try to wind you up as effectively.
“Carra did it in a intelligent manner. I used to be a bit too emotional at instances. There have been instances after I’d discuss to centre-backs and if the centre-backs try to do you, and get into you, I might all the time wait till we had been profitable by a purpose or two and inform them they had been crap. That was it actually.”
