[ad_1]
James Rodríguez has turned the happy page of the Colombian National Team and now he feels the emotion of a derby again.
Physically at his peak and with the motivation to be one of the most influential players not only in Everton but in the Premier League, he gets ready for the long-awaited duel against Liverpool, which for many is the litmus test, the real measure of what for there are the ‘blues’, beyond their impeccable start to the season.
James will miss the public, a fundamental ingredient in the Merseyside derby, but he will have in his favor the return of Allan and Andre Gomes, recovered from injuries, and the great company of Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin, figures in their teams and those who arrive eager of brilliance against a rival who has just been beaten 7-2 by Aston Villa and who, consequently, wants to get rid of the thorn with the rival in the yard.
The Colombian creative, decisive in the last 4-1 win against West Ham, will experience his first derby in England with great intensity. Strictly speaking, his only chance to play a real derby was with Real Madrid, facing Atlético. In Bayern Munich the duel in with an absent Bundesliga team and in Portugal and France could not be measured against court rivals either.
So the measure is the ‘colchonero’ team, against which the left-hander totals 18 matches in four seasons, with a curious record of 6 wins, 6 draws and 6 defeats against the classic rival of Madrid, which speaks of how even they it was the duels. Of these matches, 8 were for the League, 2 for the Copa del Rey, 5 for the Champions League and 2 for the Super Cup. On 6 occasions, the Colombian did not get off the bench.
The goal is another pending on James’ list when facing a derby. Although he keeps a pleasant memory of the Spanish duel, since he made his debut on August 19, 2014, when he replaced Cristiano Ronaldo and in his 45 minutes on the court he scored the 1-1 goal, it is his only goal in games against the rival of Real Madrid patio.
So this Saturday (6:30 am) arrives the stellar Premier duel between Everton and Liverpool and finds a ready James, more than ready, wanting to show the world that his spectacular landing in England was not an accident and that yes, there is a team, led by Carlo Ancelotti, to defend the leadership.
