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 of the notorious clashes which divide a nation, never mind a city — winning three and drawing one.
The 26-year-old, who was born in the Serbian capital, said: “The atmosphere is crazy in Belgrade derbies but I really 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!
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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.
Unfortunately, the derby has a history of violence — with its darkest day coming in 1999 when a teenage Red Star supporter was killed by a rocket fired by Partizan fans.
In 2013, 104 arrests were made following violent clashes before, during and after the match.
Two years later the derby was delayed for 45 minutes due to crowd trouble with rival fans hurling seats and flares at riot police — before launching stun grenades on to the track surrounding the pitch.
Milenkovic, a £12million summer arrival at Forest, said: “Unfortunately these things happen in the derby of Serbia.
“In England you don’t have this hatred. Here you have a lot of passion for the game and your clubs. I’m really enjoying the atmosphere here in English grounds but in Serbia it’s loco, it’s all a bit crazy!
“Partizan and Red Star share the same city and the two stadiums are only 800 metres apart.
“But it can also be a beautiful experience — especially when you win.
“It was a great achievement for a child who grew up in the Partizan academy, to go on to win the double with Partizan, especially against Red Star.
“To score the winning goal in the cup final before moving to Fiorentina, that was a dream come true for me.”
Meet North London derby Wags
ARSENAL travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the North London derby on Sunday.
So with that in mind, SunSport has put together a piece looking at 10 of the players’ partners ahead of the game.
One Arsenal man is with a woman who had a romance and daughter with Hollywood star Jude Law.
Another Gunners player is married to a competitive twerker who goes by the stage name Redheaded.
And one Spurs star convinced his partner to move to England from Los Angeles when they got together – before they went on to have three children.
Milenkovic only played 36 games for Partizan but will go down in club history for that goal. As a kid he was compared to Serbia legend Nemanja Vidic, who he idolised despite being a Red Star man.
Milenkovic said: “My role model was Nemanja Vidic. He is the best Serbian defender ever and a legend of Manchester United.
“I grew up watching him on YouTube. I watched almost every game of his.
“I still have my Serbia national team jersey with his name at home which I wore as a child, playing football in the streets.
“I learned so much just watching Nemanja but our playing careers passed each other by and I’ve never had the chance to meet him but I hope so one day.”
Milenkovic has won more caps for Serbia than Vidic, who only represented his nation 56 times.
The Forest defender marked his 58th appearance by captaining Serbia for the first time last week in the Nations League against Spain.
And his inspirational leadership sealed a brilliant, battling 0-0 draw with the European champions as he helped tame Nico Williams, Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal.
Milenkovic added: “I was hugely honoured to captain my country and represent our people.
“It was very emotional for me to lead my nation and such a young Serbian team.
“The national anthem was such a proud moment for myself and my family, and to draw 0-0 with Spain was a real highlight of my career.
“Did I shed a tear during the national anthem? No, I am a big defender, I don’t cry…”
