NIKOLA MILENKOVIC says stepping into the Anfield cauldron holds no fears.<br /><br />That is because he came of age playing in the maddest, baddest derby in Europe.<br /><br />Liverpool fans are among the most passionate in world football, with the Kop capable of producing a spine-tingling atmosphere to unnerve the best.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Milenkovic played in four notorious clashes dividing a nation, never mind a city — winning three and drawing one.<br /><br />The 26-year-old, born in the Serbian capital, said: “The atmosphere is crazy in Belgrade derbies but I enjoyed them.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“The stadium looks as if it is on fire — and it often is because the visiting Ultras set fire to the seats!”<br /><br />Milenkovic was only 18 and had barely graduated from Partizan’s academy when he was thrust into his first ‘Eternal Derby’.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />Milenkovic emerged a 1-0 victor and went on to win a league and cup double at Red Star’s expense.<br /><br />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.
