When it comes to topflight football in England, there are few wiser than John Barnes. Serving Watford, Newcastle United, and Liverpool in a career that spanned 19 years, the impressionable winger rose to become a protagonist during the 80s football landscape for his highlight reel showpieces and FA Cup specials.

The Englishman would see his best years picking up silverware at Liverpool, a club that saw him drip-fed important support from managers Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Roy Evans. 

Their nurturing led Barnes to two Footballer of the Year awards, one League Cup, four Charity Shields, two FA Cups, and two First Division titles.

Although disenchanted by his national team involvements later in his career, the Anfield favourite continued to exhibit a love for football unmatched in the modern game, even when time took its toll and his legs wouldn't let him move at the blistering paces he used to withhold during his zenith. 

Instead, Barnes would see out his remaining years as a pioneer for how age doesn't determine the criterion of a football player. As he acquiesced at the weakening of his capacity to work the line, the Kingston-born Red found his new role as a controlling midfielder in a period when Division One became the Premier League.

"Digger" would later be the label he was brandished as he became a stalwart in the heart of midfield. Slow and robust, yet intelligent and strong, Barnes, particularly towards the embers of his career, seemed to have an eternity on the ball every time it got to him.

Since he retired from football in 1999, life has still revolved around the sport he proudly calls his own. When Barnes isn't watching the Premier League on TV or dreaming of returning to life as a professional, you will find the luminary blessing Sky Sports viewers with his thoughts and analysis.

And as the 292nd Merseyside derby approaches, things are no different.

In an exclusive interview, Barnes previewed this weekend's big fixture in the city he called home for many years; compared Darwin Nunez with Erling Haaland, and gave his verdict on The Reds' title chances.

  • Merseyside derby prediction

When asked about his prediction for Saturday's fixture, Barnes instilled all his confidence in a Liverpool win but expects that his former club must approach the day in the right manner if they are to come away with three points.

"There's never a good time to play Everton, but I think in recent years, we've seen that Liverpool have had the upper hand in all the derbies because they've approached it in the right manner, and that's what you have to do," he conveyed.

The Reds have only lost once in their last 23 meetings with their neighbours in the Premier League, while last season's Goodison Park affair signalled a 4-1 sailing victory for Jurgen Klopp - who, as Barnes points out, has imbued a winning psyche into his squad in recent years.

"If you are the so-called better team, you need to go into the game complacently and with the right attitude, and I think Liverpool in the last four or five years have gone into it with the right attitude, and they've got the right result.

"It's going to be a difficult game as it's a derby, but if Liverpool approach it in the right manner, then I expect them to win it.

"Klopp will be wanting to get that performance right and get the players in the right attitude and right determination. They've got the organisation; they're a good team, so as long as they have that, that's what Klopp will want. The right players with the right attitude and the result will take care of itself - although there's no guarantee; that's all they can do."

  • Darwin Nunez will turn good

Liverpool have already struggled with their luck in the medical department this season. Naby Keita, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, Ibrahim Konate, Thiago Alcantara and new signing Calvin Ramsay are just some of those that have been hit with fitness problems. 

And Darwin Nunez hasn't helped to make things brighter for The Reds as the Uruguayan international was waved off by the referee just 57 minutes into his second Premier League start after a headbutt on Crystal Palace's Joachim Andersen.

However, Barnes still believes the £85m signing from Portuguese outfit Benfica will reach an unprecedented striking pinnacle if he relieves his discernible aggression. 

"I think Nunez can have a similar impact that Haaland has had at Man City," he claimed. "The problem that they've [Liverpool] got is that they’ve struggled with putting someone in the box too often.

"You can see what Man City have done with getting the ball in the box for Haaland. They could do the same for Nunez and he will capitalise on that. So while they'll miss Mane and what he had, I think Nunez brings something extra in terms of being a target man who can get headers in and bringing the ball into play, he'll be a great finisher. 

By the end of last season, Nunez tallied 26 goals in 28 topflight matches in Portugal, adding a further four assists to a speculative season that merited him a feared reputation. In England, he is faced with more uncompromising opposition, but he will soon learn the ropes. 

"I don't think Liverpool have any fear about his hot-headedness. Nunez is going to have to learn that the Premier League is very physical, and people are going to try to upset him.

"It doesn't matter whether it's against Everton or against Norwich, anyone; I don't think it's the fact to hold him back, but obviously, Klopp will make that decision, and if he holds him back, it won't, because if he feels like he's going to get sent off, it's because he feels that in this game maybe Firmino or somebody else will get the chance."

  • Haaland has exceeded expectations

Of course, it was always going to be challenging to join the Premier League in the same season as a striker with the goalscoring record of Erling Haaland. There is a weight of expectation from both of the strikers to replicate their form elsewhere in new surroundings.

When in dialogue about Nunez, it's hard to shy away from comparing him to his Norwegian Golden Boot rival. Something Barnes couldn't resist, either.

Talking about the new Manchester City forward, Barnes praised his start to the season, saying: "He has surprised me a little bit because I didn't think he'd do as well as he has because he's scored nine goals in six matches and I thought it would have taken him longer to adapt to the way Man City play.

"I thought Man City would have taken longer to adapt to him because of the way they play. It seems to be a match made in heaven. Even though football in England is harder than in Germany, he's shown that where he goes, he can score goals."

  • Liverpool can still win the league

For anybody who has watched even a snippet of the Premier League over the last three decades, they will know that nothing is impossible - especially as we're only five games into the new campaign. 

Regardless, though, there will always be those tentative supporters that cast a shadow on teams they berate to fuel their own blaze. This is no different for those who rival Liverpool, claiming that Man City have already won England's most prized trophy. 

And despite the difficulty of the topflight being greater than ever before, Barnes outlines this as a reason to believe that, although Man City have flown out of the traps, the conclusion of the season is far from being verified.

"Absolutely," was the reply he gave when asked whether Liverpool could still win the league. 

"They're not too many points behind, and the good thing about it is that there are still quite a few teams to bounce back. Liverpool have shown, and the rest of the Premier League has shown that the teams that teams have improved dramatically.

"From Newcastle to Arsenal to Tottenham to Chelsea, so the games are going to be harder, and I don't think Man City are going to run away without losing a game, and neither are Liverpool, so it's going to be a much tighter affair, but I think, come the end, those will be the two top teams once again."