Derby friends reunited

Close friends Pepe Reina and Mikel Arteta put their club rivalries to one side to meet up at the aptly-named Neighbourhood bistro in Woolton to talk all things Merseyside derby.

The Daily Express writer Paul Joyce listened in.

The stakes have rarely been higher, so is this the biggest derby you've both played in?

Pepe Reina: This is the biggest in terms of needing the points for both teams. We are not in the best situation and we both need three points desperately. For whoever wins, it will be so important for the fans and for the optimism of the club. We have to win.

Mikel Arteta: The win against Birmingham in our last game has given us confidence and we didn't want to go into the derby without a win. We are playing at home and we need our first victory at home this season, and can't choose a better time to do that against Liverpool.

You must both be shocked that you're at the wrong end of the table?

MA: Both clubs are really disappointed at where we are. But there's no other way to put it right than to try harder and make things better. We have a great chance to change a lot of things with one game, because of the derby and what it means.

PR: We hope it isn't the real situation, or won't be the real situation at the end of the season. I think then both of us will be fighting to be in the top six.

Everton's squad has been the same for a long time, they know each other and can almost play from memory. They can be good on the ball and also physical. To beat them at Goodison is going to be tougher than ever.

How do you manage to cope with the goldfish-bowl scrutiny in such a football-daft city?

MA: It doesn't really matter what position you are in because you always want to improve. If you are fourth in the table, you want to be higher.

But the pressure when you are at the bottom is worse, more difficult to handle. We have been there before, we know what it means. Nobody likes to be there, and we don't want to be there again.

The worries you have now must be a world away from those you felt when you were in La Masia academy at Barcelona together?

PR: The only thought then was to become a professional footballer, but playing football has never been a worry for me, in any aspect.

I've always enjoyed it and I consider myself really, really lucky to be a footballer. In Barcelona, we were at the best place you can be to become a footballer. We are really proud what we have achieved.

What do you remember about each other?

PR: I had more hair and he was a better student than me, that's for sure!

MA: He used to still be eating scrambled eggs and sausages when I was in class.

PR: La Masia was a house with between 32 and 36 guys, from 12 to 17 years old. I was 13 when I went there and Mikel 15. It's nice because you share all of your worries, your happy days, your best and worst moments.

MA: Pepe was almost as big as he is now when he was 15; you could see he was going to be a professional goalkeeper. We shared a bunk bed, but Pepe was snoring every night.

I used to keep a pile of trainers by the bed because I was below and try and throw them up to stop him.

PR: And they would fall back down and hit him, so that was nice. Iniesta, Valdes, Puyol, Thiago Motta, Rufete were all there with us - great times.

Within a few months of each other you joined Everton and Liverpool in 2005...

PR: It was in the February and Rafa [Benitez] was knocking at my door already and it was a possibility for me to come from Villarreal. Mikel had joined in the January and I asked if it was a good place.

He told me that Liverpool is a great city and Liverpool is a great club and that the people are very good.

Mikel, did you not try and get him to Everton?

MA: I would have, but we couldn't match Liverpool's offer. He was the best man at my wedding along with Tim Cahill. I can't remember his speech because it was so late at night.

PR: It was early in the morning!

Would you normally speak to each other in the build-up to a derby?

PR: We'd probably go three or four days without speaking, then after the game we'll be talking like normal again. There'll be no problem. It's just a game. It's massive for the fans, it's a massive three points and it's a massive game for both of us. But it's still just a game.

If he has to punish me during the game he will, and I'll do the same to him. For 90 minutes we will not be friends at all. But after that, lives carry on and we are friends above everything.

Everton have a penalty to win in the final minute. Mikel what are you thinking?

MA: All the time after training when we were at Barcelona, we'd have a bet. I'd take five penalties and if Pepe stopped two I'd take him out for dinner, and if he stopped less than that he'd have to take me.

Two years ago, in the last minute of the game we should have had a penalty when Joleon Lescott was fouled. So it should have happened then.

PR: That was a good decision! He was really worried.

MA: It was a penalty! Pepe's record is very good though.

PR: It used to be, not any more!

Would you settle for a draw to keep the peace, Pepe?

PR: No chance.

MA: None of us would settle for that.'This is so important for the fans and the clubs but afterwards we're friends above everything' 'Mikel was a far better student than me'.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.