NIKOLA MILENKOVIC says stepping into the Anfield cauldron holds no fears.
That is because he came of age playing in the maddest, baddest derby in Europe.
Liverpool fans are among the most passionate in world football, with the Kop capable of producing a spine-tingling atmosphere to unnerve the best.
But Nottingham Forest’s 6ft 5in defender reckons he can handle the Merseyside crowd today after surviving the bonkers Balkans derby between Partizan and Red Star Belgrade.
Milenkovic played in four notorious clashes dividing a nation, never mind a city — winning three and drawing one.
The 26-year-old, born in the Serbian capital, said: “The atmosphere is crazy in Belgrade derbies but I enjoyed them.
“On derby day in Belgrade, everything stops in the city — absolutely anything goes. There are so many police all over the place and rival fans fight in the streets.
“The stadium looks as if it is on fire — and it often is because the visiting Ultras set fire to the seats!”
Milenkovic was only 18 and had barely graduated from Partizan’s academy when he was thrust into his first ‘Eternal Derby’.
On that occasion, Partizan fans gave the visiting Red Star supporters a warm welcome hell would have been proud of as their Ultras displayed a washing line packed with Red Star shirts… then set it ablaze!
Milenkovic emerged a 1-0 victor and went on to win a league and cup double at Red Star’s expense.
He scored the only goal in the Serbian Cup final AGAINST them with a booming header on his 36th and final game for Partizan before his 2017 move to Fiorentina.
