Former Everton striker Tony Cottee reckons he would have been 'killed' had he left the Blues for Liverpool. Cottee briefly became Britain's most expensive player when he joined Everton in August 1988.

While Ian Rush's £3.2million return to the Reds from Juventus later that month eclipsed that fee, Cottee's £2.2m deal was viewed as a major coup for the Blues. He starred across six seasons at Everton before making his way back to the club where he launched his career, West Ham.

It was a move that didn't sit well with the Toffees faithful at the time and they still have a soft spot for Cottee, especially after he bagged a brace against Liverpool in the first of two FA Cup replays back in 1991, which ultimately saw Everton knock their neighbours out of the competition.

His performances certainly turned some heads but he said that while he was linked with several other clubs during his stint at Goodison Park, he never once entertained the idea of making his way across Stanley Park to join the Reds.

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"Not while I was at Everton. Imagine if I left Everton and went to Liverpool; I would have been killed, I think," Cottee told the ECHO via BetSelect.

"I was linked with so many clubs. I played for 20 years and if you are half decent, you're going to get linked with other clubs. I don't directly remember being linked with Liverpool.

"I was linked with Arsenal. I was linked with Glasgow Rangers, who were a big club back in the '80s. I got linked with Tottenham when I was at Everton. I got linked with Crystal Palace. There are so many different clubs. I don't remember being linked with Liverpool. And I think with the rivalry, which is obviously still in play, once you play for Everton [you can't switch].

"A lot of it is just hearsay. You still get it now with the transfer window. If you're a good player and scoring goals, you're going to get linked with other clubs. I just used to take it as a compliment. If I'm being linked with other clubs, that means you're doing well. Particularly in my first spell at West Ham, I was getting linked and obviously went on to become the record signing."

Everton host Liverpool on Wednesday in what will be the final Merseyside Derby to take place at Goodison Park, with the club set to move to their new stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of next season.

With the Reds chasing Premier League glory under Arne Slot and the hosts enjoying something of a revival under the returning David Moyes, it's expected to be a tense affair. Liverpool can go nine points clear over second-placed Arsenal if they win at Goodison, yet Cottee will be hoping the Toffees can dent their rivals' title ambitions as a self-professed Blue.

"I'm an Evertonian now. The thought of Liverpool winning the league is not something that fills me with happiness, but we've got to accept they are a fantastic team at the moment," he admitted.

Cottee played 184 league games for Everton, scoring 76 goals. He went on to have spells with West Ham, Leicester City, Malaysian side Selangor, Birmingham City, Norwich City, Barnet and Milwall. He retired in 2001 and has since worked as a pundit.