Everton manager Frank Lampard has claimed that Liverpool are one of the best teams in the world.
Speaking to evertonfc.com after his team beat Chelsea on Sunday, Lampard made reference to how tough the previous week’s game at Anfield had been for his side.
“We played one of the best teams in the world at the moment last week – Liverpool,” he said.
“Put in a great performance in my opinion, could go one-nil up, then the game turns on us in the latter stages.”
We’re not sure exactly where Lampard thinks Everton could have taken the lead. They only had one shot on target all game. But otherwise, he’s absolutely right – Liverpool are one of the best around.
Everton still in danger of the drop
It may not be something that supporters of the club Lampard manages want to hear. But Liverpool are simply miles ahead of their city rivals at the moment.
That said, it would be a loss to football in Liverpool if Everton were to lose their Premier League status at the end of this month.
Before last week’s game, Jurgen Klopp was asked if he would miss the Merseyside Derby being on the calendar for 2022/23.
“Of course. I think we’re all used to having to teams in the city,” said Klopp via Daily Mail.
That probably echoes the sentiment of quite a few fans of a Liverpool persuasion. Others will no doubt delight in the Toffees going down for the first time 1951.
Although the initial novelty of the situation would be appealing to many, there’s no question that the city as a whole benefits from having two teams at the top table.
Should Everton drop out, Liverpool would have to make do with their double-header with Manchester United to get their rivalry kicks.
That may be fine at first, but recent years aside, Liverpool have often come out of that rivalry second best. In terms of trophies won and prestige collected, Everton can’t get close to The Reds.
That looks unlikely to change anytime soon. Everton fans may not thank Lampard for pointing it out, but Liverpool are on a different planet to their neighbours at the moment.