Reds trail the Toffees by five points in the top-flight standings at present.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has raised the stakes ahead of Sunday afternoon’s Merseyside derby with Everton at Anfield, says the Daily Mirror.
David Moyes’s side going into the 220th meeting between these two famous old rivals knowing that a win at the Reds will guarantee that they finish above Gerrard and Co in the Premier League come the end of the season for the second year in a row.
And, the last time that such a scenario happened was way back in 1962, although the England international skipper has sent a stark message to the Toffees ahead of the big clash.
Gerrard, 32, does not feel that finishing the campaign above Liverpool is anything to be proud of, while the midfield player also went on to question when Liverpool’s city rivals last won a trophy in comments that are sure to fan the flames prior to Sunday’s encounter.
“Everton may have the aim of finishing two seasons on trot above us, yeah, but they haven’t won anything have they?” Gerrard said. “It’s nothing to finish sixth or seventh in this league.
“Listen, if Everton finish above us and their supporters are really happy and their players and everyone is really happy, then that’s up to them.
“But if we finish above Everton there will be no celebrating around here because it’s nothing really. It’s no big deal. No big deal at all.
“We want to win the derby, of course we do. We want to finish above Everton, of course we do. But in the big picture is it really, really important? I don’t know … Maybe not.”
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