Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has paid tribute to former club captain and coach Ronnie Moran ahead of his side’s Merseyside clash with rivals Everton.

Moran served Anfield for 49 years as a player, coach and caretaker manager, and notably lifted the old First Division title in 1964 and 1966 as captain.

The former defender played until 1968 and stayed on at the club after being invited on to the coaching staff by Bill Shankly.

According to reports, Moran, known as ‘Mr Liverpool’, was diagnosed with vascular dementia four years ago and was admitted to a 24-hour care home last October. He passed away on Wednesday 22 March at the age of 83.

Writing in Saturday’s match-day programme, Klopp praised the individual for his contributions to the club.

“Finally, today is the first game we play since the very sad news that Ronnie Moran has passed away,” he wrote. “I know that as a team and as a club we are marking the occasion this afternoon.

“I had the good fortune to meet this very special person last season and even greater fortune to have learned about his amazing story and contribution to LFC.

“For the family there is great grief to have lost someone they loved so much. But there is also celebration and joy at a life of such fulfilment and achievement.

Everton vs Liverpool player ratings Show all 23 1 /23 Everton vs Liverpool player ratings Everton vs Liverpool player ratings everton-vs-liverpool.jpg Who stood out in the Merseyside derby? Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 1-pickford.jpg Produced a couple of great saves in the first half to deny Dominic Solanke and James Milner. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 2-coleman.jpg Instigated the game’s first real flash-point as he squared up to Danny Ings after a foul by the Liverpool man. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 3-jagielka.jpg Produced a couple of full-blooded challenges in the second half that really got the crowd going. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 4-keane.jpg A solid display in front of the watching Gareth Southgate. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 5-baines.jpg As dependable as ever on the left side of Everton’s back four and nearly claimed an assist with a dangerous cross late on. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 6-rooney.jpg Exerted little influence and was lucky to escape a booking for a cynical lunge on Dominic Solanke. Hooked shortly after the break, much to his visible anger. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 7-schneiderlin.jpg Looked tired in midfield. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 8-davies.jpg Carved open Liverpool’s defence with a through ball to Baines, whose subsequent cross into the box almost provided the opener 15 minutes from time. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 9-walcott.jpg Anonymous in the first 75 minutes but was perhaps Everton’s biggest threat in the closing stages. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 10-tosun.jpg Missed a gilt-edged chance late on as he put his header wide from point-blank range after good work by Theo Walcott. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 11-bolasie.jpg Almost opened the scoring with a stunning long-distance strike but Loris Karius thwarted him with a superb fingertip stop. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 12-karius.jpg Came up with one of the saves of the season to deny Bolasie a stunning first-half opener. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 13-clyne.jpg Another solid outing as he continues his comeback from a serious back injury. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 14-lovren.jpg Could’ve cost Liverpool the game late on as he got caught the wrong side of Cenk Tosun, which allowed the Everton man a run at goal. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 15-van-dijk.jpg A commanding presence at the back as always. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 16-klavan.jpg Almost sliced the ball into his own net from a teasing Everton cross in the first half. Not a left-back. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 17-wijnaldum.jpg Classy in the centre of the park and could’ve played his way into contention for a starting berth at the Etihad on Tuesday. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 18-henderson.jpg Will be gutted to be missing next week’s game against City through suspension but he didn’t let his disappointment show today. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 19-milner.jpg Backed up his European display against City with another solid outing and would have scored were it not for Pickford’s heroic first-half display. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 20-ings.jpg A decent outing for the injury-plagued attacker but he never threatened Jordan Pickford’s goal. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 21-solanke.jpg Put an early header wide and should’ve scored a few minutes later when he was denied from close range by Pickford. Getty Everton vs Liverpool player ratings 22-mane.jpg Looked to be playing within himself. Perhaps had one eye on Tuesday night. Getty

“Ronnie has joined our other giants, who have made their great impact at LFC but now left our lives. From everything I have heard and read he wouldn’t have appreciated all the fuss but, goodness me, he deserves every second of the tributes that have been paid – including today’s at Anfield.”

Prior to kick-off, players and fans paid their respects with a minute's applause while sections of Anfield sang ‘You’ll never work alone’.