---
title: "Phil Neville – “I hated Merseyside derbies”"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/phil-neville-i-hated-merseyside-derbies/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Sam Brown"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2018-09-08T11:38:07Z"
modified: "2018-09-08T11:38:07Z"
---

# Phil Neville – “I hated Merseyside derbies”

Phil Neville has revealed how much he disliked playing in Merseyside derbies.

The contests between Liverpool and Everton seem to engulf Merseyside popular culture in the run-up to matches, and that wasn’t something former Everton captain Neville appreciated.

![Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/readliverpoolfc/2018/09/154873768.jpg)

Speaking to Sky Sports ([quoted by the Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/phil-neville-opens-up-everton-15126408)), Neville said:

> I hated Merseyside derbies, I really did,

> I thought they were over-hyped. I think a Manchester derby, we used to talk about from 48 hours before. Merseyside derbies were a week before.

> The masseur would put up on the wall ‘five more sleeps’. The next day ‘four more sleeps’, the next day ‘three more sleeps until the Merseyside derby’.

> It was the biggest game.

Encouraging words then for Liverpool fans, who have dominated the rivalry in recent years. The Toffees haven’t beaten the Reds since 2010, a span of 17 games.

Liverpool will be hoping to replicate the hostile atmosphere Neville so detested in future Merseyside derbies, as they seek to continue to keep their neighbours quiet.