Tak Peduli Will Be Mocked By Liverpool Supporters, Everton Striker Still Disrespectful Because Jota

Beto has had a warm story with Diogo Jota since defending Everton (Instagram/@beto_norberto_14).

JAKARTA - Everton striker Beto is already prepared if he and his team will be ridiculed by Liverpool supporters during the Derby Merseyside match at Anfield on Saturday, September 20, 2025.

However, the player who was born in Lisbon, Portugal, doesn't really care about how hot the Merseyside Derby is.

Ahead of the match, Beto was only focused on Diogo Jota. He also emerged as part of The Toffees delegation who paid tribute after shocking news about the Liverpool forward's death in July 2025.

It was very touching for Beto because Jota was the first person to contact him when he confirmed his move to Everton in August 2023.

He talks warmly about how Diogo Jota helps him adapt to life in England.

"We're not friends, but you know, when playing against Portuguese players and so on, we usually talk a little."

"You guys have Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and these people, but when I joined Everton, he (Jota) was the first to send me a message."

"He just said: 'I'm happy for you. If you need something about this city, everyone, I can help you, just call me'."

"After every game against Liverpool, we chatted for a while. So, when Everton showed interest in me going to the stadium, I said: 'I'm gone, I'm gone'."

"Not only because he is Portuguese, we understand each other, he is a very kind and humble person."

"I see togetherness between Everton and Liverpool. Not between clubs, but more between fans, you know?"

"Many Everton supporters are sad because even though he is a rival, he lives more than just football," said Beto.

Despite being criticized for some of his performances - only scoring 12 goals in 64 appearances in the Premier League - Beto insists he appreciates the welcome he received at Merseyside.

That doesn't mean he hopes it will happen to him on Saturday.

"I like Scouser people because they are very good people. All the Scouser people I meet outside of football, they don't know I'm a footballer, they're very good people."

"With football, the situation is different. Sometimes they don't like you just because you play for rivals."

"Sometimes they say: 'Beto, you guy', 'Van Dijk will do this to you, we will beat you up, we will do this'."

"If I went to Anfield on Saturday and they ridiculed me, it was normal. They wouldn't think: 'Oh, Beto is a good person because he goes to put flowers on Diogo.' It's not the same.'

"However, when it comes to life, they are there because they are human."

"Of course, I respect Diogo and the Liverpool community. I went there to play and win. I will not try to take actions that show disrespect for them because when I go there. They show respect for me," said Beto again.

Beto has scored the Derby Merseyside goal from last year's 2-2 draw, which impressed thanks to James Tarkowski's stunning equalizer in the eighth minute of injury time.

However, he hasn't been satisfied with his overall performance since joining, especially as he is now the striker of the first choice after Dominic Calvert-Lewin's summer departure.

"It's not that I don't like my time at Everton, but I don't like the way I play. I feel I can do more even though I don't have minutes to play."

"A striker needs to score a goal. If I score a goal, I'm a good player. If I don't score, maybe I'm not so good. That's a striker's life."

"It's okay to get such pressure because it makes me work harder. I can always improve my performance and goals because last season, from start to finish, I think I'm a different player."

"I've grown a lot in terms of goals and my game as a whole. So, I think I can develop even more. I can get better," said the Guine-Bissau player.