Phil Neville has revealed former Everton boss David Moyes used to instruct his players not to let Jamie Carragher “referee the game” ahead of every Merseyside derby.
No Everton manager has managed a win over fierce rivals, Liverpool, since his departure for Manchester United in 2013, with the Toffees’ last derby victory coming back in October 2010.
How did Moyes try to deal with Carragher? Five things to know…
- Moyes managed just four wins in his 25 Merseyside derbies as Everton manager.
- But since the Scot left, the Toffees have failed to beat their city rivals.
- Everton are now 21 games without a win against Liverpool.
- Neville has revealed how Moyes used to instruct his players to stop Carragher influencing the referee.
- He also said Andy Johnson preyed upon the “flat” Carragher during Everton’s 3-0 win over Liverpool in 2006.
Despite never managing a win at Anfield during his time in charge of Everton, Moyes did ensure his side made it difficult for the Reds at Goodison Park and former club captain Neville has now revealed how keeping Carragher — a boyhood Evertonian — out of the referee’s ear was part of his masterplan.
“In my first derby, Steven Gerrard smashed me in the first minute. So I went in on Robbie Fowler. It was a bit of a tussle. It was like gold dust. You get that fifty-fifty against Fowler, he had a go and I had a little bit back,” he told Gary Neville’s Soccerbox while watching Everton’s 3-0 win over Liverpool in 2006.
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“There’s Graham Poll. And there’s Carragher refereeing the game. Like he did in every game.
“Every game when played against Liverpool, David Moyes used to say ‘don’t let Jamie Carragher referee the game.'”
Andy Johnson scored twice that day and Neville also revealed how the former England striker sought to exploit Carragher, who he felt was “flat” in comparison to centre-back partner Sami Hyypia.
“Andy Johnson would start on Hyypia and make runs in behind Carragher,” Neville added. “Because we always used to say Carragher was flat and always looking to press the ball.”