Tubes meets Idrissa Gueye to discuss life at Everton, defensive midfielders and the Merseyside derby...

Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye chats to Soccer AM's Tubes on Saturday's show, discussing his time at Everton so far, defensive midfielders, the Merseyside derby and much more...

Everton, who take on Liverpool at Anfield live on Sky Sports on Saturday lunchtime, will be hoping to close the gap to Jurgen Klopp's side to just three points with victory.

And Gueye is hopeful his side can claim a first win at Anfield for 18 years.

Soccer AM

Here's a taste of what Gueye had to say...

How have you enjoyed your time at Everton?

I am enjoying it very much. Everton is a big team and I am very happy to be here, playing with good players and we have a good manager.

When you first joined, did the boys make you sing a song? Did you have to do an initiation?

Not on the first day but in December I sang.

What did you sing?

Every new player sang. We had food and then after the food I sang Jamie Foxx and Kanye West. I think I was good.

How much are you looking forward to playing Liverpool this weekend in the Merseyside derby?

It's a big game. We lost the last derby at home. We we're very disappointed but now we have another game to win and we'll try to win it.

Live Premier League

It's your first time playing for Everton at Liverpool. Anfield is a great stadium, isn't it?

I played there for Aston Villa and we lost. I will try and win there with Everton.

The derby is important for the supporters and it's important for the club and for us.

It will be hard but like to play in games like this. We will defend our colour for 90 minutes and fight to try and win the game.

You are really good friends with Sadio Mane. Have you been messaging ahead of the game?

He's a good friend. We fly together to come back from the national team. I've told him now not to talk to me. No messages, don't talk to me and we can talk after the game. It's finished for one week and then after we can talk.

Who was your footballing hero growing up?

When I was young, I liked David Beckham. I saw him all the time on the TV and realised he wasn't the type of player I needed to learn from because he's not a defensive midfielder. I watched a lot of videos of Lassana Diarra.

Who would you say is the best defensive midfielder in history?

For me, it is Claude Makelele. He's a very good defensive midfielder. He was clever and earned a lot of ball but now we have N'Golo Kante who does very well on the pitch for Chelsea. He did very well for Leicester last season and this season he's doing very good.

Your stats are very similar to N'Golo Kante so you are basically up there with him. Are you saying he's the best in the Premier League at the moment in that role?

Yes, I think he's the best because last season he won the league with Leicester. He did very well and then this season maybe he will win the league with Chelsea. For me, he is the best midfielder in the world.

Watch the full interview with Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye on Saturday's Soccer AM from 9.45am on Sky Sports 1.

Liverpool face Everton on Premier League Live on Saturday, coverage starts on Sky Sports 1 straight after Soccer AM from 11.30pm.