David Moyes has admitted his biggest challenge at Everton is closing the gap on Liverpool – but quipped that it is hard to compete when their city rivals spend more on a single player than the Toffees have invested in their whole squad.
The first Merseyside derby of the season takes place at Anfield on Saturday, with reigning Premier League champions Liverpool looking to maintain their perfect start.
Arne Slot’s side broke their own transfer record twice this summer, signing Florian Wirtz for £116million and Alexander Isak for £125m as they aim to convert domestic dominance into Champions League glory.
Moyes, whose Everton side have made a strong start with three wins and a draw from their opening five matches, says he cannot begrudge Liverpool’s spending power – but could not resist a dig at the scale of their investment.
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“You earn the right to spend money,” Moyes said.
“You have to win and be in the big competitions to make the money.
"At West Ham, with three years in Europe, it allowed us to spend some money.
“Liverpool have been entitled to do that and Arne has defended them, saying how much they have brought in.
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David Moyes has admitted Everton can't compete with Liverpool's spending as Saturday's Merseyside derby clash looms
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"But I still think they have spent more on one player than we have on the whole squad!”
Whether the Scot was referring to Wirtz or Isak, his point was clear. Liverpool’s transfer muscle is a world away from Everton’s, who have been carefully rebuilding after four turbulent seasons on and off the pitch.
Slot, meanwhile, was keen to remind reporters that Everton have quality of their own, joking that they effectively have a £100m player in Jack Grealish – even if he is only at Goodison Park on loan.
For Moyes, Saturday’s showdown is as much about pride as points.
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“It is about having a realism about where the game and the clubs are at,” he added.
“My job is to shorten the gulf between the two clubs. "Liverpool are champions and favourites – if not second favourites – for the Champions League.
“We are not. We are Everton, we have come out of four difficult years. Bridging that gap is quite difficult to do.
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Liverpool have spent big on the likes of Alexander Isak (pictured) ahead of Saturday's Merseyside derby showdown with Everton
|PA
“We want to enjoy it, play better, win more often. We are trying desperately to challenge the big teams.
"Any big derby in any city is very important.
"This is always a very difficult game for me personally because we have come up against really good teams.
“We have always been competitive, that will not change.
"The gap between the two clubs in my first stint was as close as it has ever been.
David Moyes pictured at Anfield during his first stint in charge of Everton
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"The derby is always hugely important. Do I enjoy it? I would be lying if I said yes!”
Everton last won a league match at Anfield in February 2021 but will take encouragement from their early-season form – and from Moyes’ belief that the gap, however vast, can still be narrowed.