Ronald Koeman has paid Liverpool a serious compliment after Everton’s matches against ourselves and Manchester United over the past few days.
The Dutchman brought his side across Stanley Park on Saturday and were largely taught a footballing lesson, losing 3-1 at Anfield – but almost won at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
Only a late Zlatan Ibrahimovic penalty stopped them collecting the three points.
According to Koeman, we’re a better, more difficult side to play against because of our pressing and tempo.
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“Different system, different pressing, I feel myself more comfortable here than the way Liverpool tried to press,” he told reporters.
“You know United are strong, they have individual qualities, but it isn’t a team who will from the start press, press, press.
“They have a different system and still a strong team, really good players, but you get more time and you will have more ball possession, it’s different.”
Regardless of the fact we’ve outshone United badly in the Premier League, scoring 23 more goals, they only sit six points behind us, so will go level if they win their games in hand.
It’s an issue of our own making though because of our consistent failure to beat poor sides when we dominate matches.
Last night, we threw away a 2-1 lead against Bournemouth, conceding a sloppy goal in the 87th minute when we should have put them to the sword.
It’s happened time and time again.