Richard Keys stating that his “allegiance has moved” from Liverpool to Everton left Jason McAteer shocked.
Speaking on beIN Sports (7 December), McAteer and Keys argued over the latter changing his colours from the Reds to the Blues after spending time living and working on Merseyside earlier in his career.
After Saturday’s Merseyside derby was postponed due to Storm Darragh, the duo and Andy Gray debated whether it was acceptable to switch allegiances despite the clubs’ success rates.
McAteer asked: “I get the feeling you tend to lean towards Liverpool, rather than Everton – and why would that be?”
Keys replied: “Because Liverpool were more successful – it was more enjoyable. But the good guys were always at Everton, and as the years have passed, my allegiance has moved and I have turned blue.”
Richard Keys rightly lambasted for Liverpool to Everton comments
While it’s understandable for McAteer, who spent four years of his career with Liverpool, to be unhappy with Keys switching sides, you’d struggle to find a Toffees fan happy to accept a former Red.
Given Keys’ reasoning behind his initial support for Liverpool was their greater success than the Blues, the Goodison Park faithful would be unlikely to want anything to do with someone viewed as a turncoat.
Storm Darragh putting paid – for now – to the final Merseyside derby at Goodison will have been a crushing blow for fans keen to give the Grand Old Lady a day to remember.
However, the chance to do so later on in the season – closer to when the sun will truly set on the Toffees’ long-time home, could prove to be a much more emotional date for all involved in blue.
Having the support of a club legend like Gray will undoubtedly spur fans and players on once that rearranged fixture comes around, but few will be looking to lean on Keys as a diehard Toffees man.
