Foreign stars ready for battle

"As a local lad a derby spurs you on even more but players don't have to be at a club long to understand the rivalry and the passion between the supporters," claimed Thommo. "Maybe local pride does mean because you have the family background and your friends to go with it. But there are players on both sides who are very charged up for each occasion. It's just something that comes to you."

"There are more foreign players now than when I played but they are still getting people coming up and talking to them day and day out about the derby and telling them what they want from it. It brings the importance of the game home to you whether you are from Senegal or Speke."