It’s a bit of a stereotype when it comes to visiting Liverpool, that most of the taxi drivers you will meet are Evertonians.
But there is such a level of truth to it that even Jurgen Klopp referenced it during his time in charge of the red half of Merseyside.
“I’ve had taxi drivers who have been Everton fans. They’ve been really nice,” said Klopp.
And now that Denise O’Sullivan has recently taken up residence in the city after deciding to end her nearly nine-year journey with the North Carolina Courage in favour of a new challenge with Liverpool, she has experienced it for herself.
“To be fair, I’ve had a few Uber drivers that were Blues, so that’s been quite fun getting to speak to them. It’s such a big rivalry here.
“But the city itself is class, it’s such a footballing city,” eulogises the Cork woman, who will experience that rivalry for the first time when Liverpool face Everton in the Women’s FA Cup fifth round at St Helens Stadium on Sunday.
But while the playmaker, who celebrated her 32nd birthday with a quiet night in recently, has been enjoying discussing the upcoming derby with the fans of her new rivals, she hasn’t been in touch with her international colleague Courtney Brosnan, who will be in goal for the Toffees.
“No, nothing. Nothing! We’re not talking this week now until the game’s over,” laughs Liverpool’s number six, whose only previous derby experience was when she faced Celtic and Rangers during her time with Glasgow City.
“When the game’s over, we’ll chat. But no, she’s class, such a good person as well so I’m excited to see her Sunday.
“Everton have been doing well recently, they’ve three wins on the bounce and they have one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”
While the move from America to much, much closer to home has already benefited her new team – Liverpool have climbed off the bottom of the Women’s Super League with two wins in four games since O’Sullivan signed – the Knocknaheeny native also believes it will benefit the Republic of Ireland WNT, who will now get a better version of the midfielder.
“That’s one of the biggest things about playing here, it’s a quick 40-minute flight. I won’t be jet-lagged and I won’t be exhausted playing every single game because, genuinely, I’m not making excuses, that’s how it was every single game when I was playing for Ireland,” added O’Sullivan, who also allayed the fears of her Ireland manager Carla Ward over the use of her knee strap recently.
“I never slept very well. It was such a big travel. I don’t think people realise how much of a toll it really takes on your body to travel that much and then play a game for Ireland and then you’re going back to the other side of America to play.
“You get in on a Thursday, and you play two days later on a Saturday. So, I don’t know how I did it, to be quite honest, but I managed to do it and I’m happy to see the back of that side of it.
“I was travelling so much with club and with country that my body could never recover in time.
“So, no excuses going in (to Ireland camp) this time I’ll be rearing to go. I’ll be fully fresh.
“The strap is only precautionary. I think it gives me confidence in going in for tackles and stuff. That’s the only reason why I’m wearing that now, so I’ll be weaning off that strap soon. I’m totally fine.”
The shorter commute has also benefited her family who are taking turns making the short trip across the Irish sea, with her sister getting the nod to attend this weekend’s Merseyside derby where a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, as well as local bragging rights, will be at stake.
“The biggest goal is getting to Wembley, right? So, winning on Sunday would be a first step to that.
“I’m really excited for it. It should be a good game. Merseyside derby… it’s always exciting. Everton are in a good place. I think we’re in a good place, so it’s going to be an exciting one.
“If we stick to the game plan and do what we’re supposed to do, I think we can get a positive result.”
And if Liverpool can achieve that, it should also make O’Sullivan’s future taxi journeys more enjoyable.
