Marco Silva has fired back at Jurgen Klopp after the Liverpool manager claimed the Merseyside derby is Everton’s World Cup final.
Toffees boss Silva responded by suggesting Liverpool celebrated like a World Cup final after the late winner in the reverse fixture at Anfield.
What provoked Silva’s comments? Five key things to know…
- Liverpool won the first Merseyside derby of the season 1-0 at Anfield back in December.
- Divock Origi scored the winning goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time as a result of a Jordan Pickford mistake.
- Both Silva and Klopp are in need of the points as Liverpool aim to remain top of the Premier League and Everton look to relieve the pressure on their manager.
- Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s goalless draw with Manchester United, Klopp likened the derby to a World Cup final for Everton.
- Everton haven’t won any of the last 18 Merseyside derbies, last beating Liverpool in October 2010.
Last month, Klopp hinted the rivalry is of more importance to Everton than it is to Liverpool.
“You have Everton, and we all know for them, it’s a kind of World Cup final,” Klopp said, as reported by Sky Sports.
Silva reacted by bringing up Liverpool’s celebrations after the reverse fixture, insisting the derby is like a World Cup final for both clubs.
The Everton manager said: “It is a special game for both, for the city also, for our fans a special match, for their fans also a special match.
“I didn’t see a big difference. I managed my first Merseyside derby last December and what I felt was a special match for both teams.
“They celebrated that lucky goal – that lucky moment they had in the last seconds of the match – (like it) was the final of a World Cup for us and for them.”
It’s worth noting Klopp mirrored Silva’s viewpoint in his press conference on Friday.
“I said a thing a couple of weeks ago when we spoke about the upcoming games,” said the German.
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“Everybody spoke only about Bayern Munich or only about Manchester United. Nobody really spoke about Watford or Everton.
“But they are all important and for us, we are Liverpool, we play against Everton and for us it is like a World Cup final as well. That is how it is.
“It is not a World Cup final, obviously, but it is a very, very, very important game in the season. Not only because of the situation, but because of the history.”
What is at stake for Everton and Liverpool this weekend?
Manchester City will go top for at least 24 hours if they beat Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
If that’s the case, Liverpool will have to respond by collecting all three points from a potentially tricky derby against Everton.
The Toffees, too, are desperate for a result. Silva’s position has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks, although some of the pressure was relieved after Tuesday’s 3-0 win at Cardiff City.
Defeat for either side could have huge ramifications, but most of all both sets of fans will be eager to secure the bragging rights on Merseyside for the rest of the season.
The post Marco Silva fires back at Jurgen Klopp over ‘World Cup final’ comments appeared first on Squawka News.
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