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Steven Gerrard is relishing the first Merseyside derby of his managerial career tonight as he admitted: “I wish I was playing in it myself!”

The Reds’ under-18s entertain Everton at the Kirkby Academy (7pm kick-off) and the Kop legend knows exactly what’s required as they look to extend their unbeaten league run.

Gerrard wrote his name into derby folklore during a remarkable career which saw him net 10 goals in 33 clashes with the Blues.

“I can’t wait for it and I wish I was playing in it myself!” he said. “Derbies were my favourite games as a player and I hope they will be my favourite games as a manager as well.

“Everton are a tough side and I’m sure they will set up to try and stop us playing, which is what they do at first-team level.

“I’m sure they will be very concerned about us as an attacking threat and they will try and spoil our play and cause us problems.

“Friday night is all about defending well from us. If we can defend well then I’m very confident we can get the right result.”

Gerrard wants the Reds to be combative and on the front foot but has told his players it needs to be a performance of controlled aggression.

“You’ve got to channel your passion for these games in the right way,” he told Liverpoolfc.com

“I’ve been guilty as a player in the past of overstepping the mark and getting too fired up for a derby.

“I’m trying to put that across to the lads, they have got experience of playing in a mini-derby, so it’s important they channel their aggression in the right way.

“It’s important we keep 11 players on the pitch but I’ve got no doubt that they are ready for this one. The Scousers, the local lads, know what this derby means and I’m sure they will spread that around the squad.”

(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Gerrard wants to see his side tighten up at the back following last weekend’s 4-3 victory over Middlesbrough in the Under-18 Premier League Cup.

He has urged his defenders to study how fellow Kop icon Jamie Carragher always put his body on the line.

“People are scoring goals too easily against us and that’s certainly the area we are giving a lot of attention to at the moment,” Gerrard said.

“Defending starts from the front and it always has done at this football club for many years, even before I was born. We had legends like Ian Rush, Kevin Keegan, John Toshack and Kenny Dalglish who were masters at defending from the front.

“We are trying as a team to improve defensively but what it boils down to is you’ve got to want to defend. You’ve got to take an elbow in the face, get a bloody nose or take a shot in the privates!

“Defending hurts. We are trying to toughen them up individually and get them to put their bodies on the line.

“I played with Jamie Carragher, who wasn’t known for 40-yard passes or dribbling out from the back, he was known for blocks, he was known for organising and pulling people into positions and defending.

“He was a constant noise in your ear for 90 minutes and that’s how you defend at the top level.”

Tonight’s game is live on LFCTV.