David Anderson 19/10/2007
Peter Crouch has wound up Everton ahead of tomorrow's 206th Merseyside derby by accusing them of wallowing in last season's triumph.
The Liverpool striker claims they took great delight in "rubbing in" their 3-0 success over Rafael Benitez's side at Goodison Park and went overboard in their celebrations.
Crouch's barbed comments surfaced in his new autobiography Walking Tall - My Story and have irritated Evertonians.
"I don't think anybody watching would say we were three goals worse than they were, although on the day Everton were probably the better side," said the England forward.
"Thankfully we win the majority of derby games, but when Everton do win, they tend to rub it in a lot more than we ever do.
"The Liverpool lads couldn't believe it when we found out that days after the game, Everton had rushed out a DVD of the match and were selling it in the club shop.
"They even had their players signing copies of it. It was obviously a big moment for them."
Liverpool were already guaranteed a hostile reception before Crouch's comments, but Kop boss Benitez has backed Fernando Torres to handle his first Merseyside derby.
Torres is almost recovered from a thigh problem and Benitez is sure the £21.5million former Atletico Madrid striker will draw on his experience in the Spanish capital. "The one difference with this derby is it's more physical," said Benitez. "But Fernando played in the Atletico Madrid-Real Madrid derbies and they're big games.
"He has enough experience to cope.
"He trained yesterday with the ball and is very, very close to returning. Maybe it could be a risk to play him and maybe not. We have some more training sessions and we will see."
The Liverpool treatment room is finally emptying and Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso - both victims of a broken foot - could also make their comebacks against Everton.
Blues manager David Moyes has also received some good news, with Tim Cahill in line for his first appearance of the season.
The Australia international, who has scored three goals in six derbies, has not played since cracking a metatarsal in March.
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