English Premier League: Neville relishing the “massive” game
Off the field matters have taken precedence at the Merseyside in the international break that is currently in place but after the two week break comes to a conclusion in the middle of October, Everton take on Liverpool in one of
the most anticipated matches of the season. Everton have been the underdog club at the Merseyside with Liverpool achieving success over the past thirty or so years. Nonetheless, the Toffees have considerable support of their own, support that will be out in
full force when the Reds visit the Goodison Park on October 17th, 2010.
Everton fans have had a torrid time as their teams start to the English Premier League has not been a very good one. Everton just recently recorded their first win in the league but despite that, they find themselves above Liverpool
in the English Premier League table’s rankings. Liverpool presently occupy the 18th place in the league table whereas Everton are just one place above their rivals in the 17th placed spot. It has been a tough season in general for both
Merseyside clubs. Everton’s bad start has been accompanied by Liverpool’s debt and ownership troubles.
According to the latest reports, the club is set to enter administration if the owners and the prospective buyers don’t settle their issues. In some rumors, a court battle is being speculated which would only further drag Liverpool’s
"glorious" name through mud. Everton on the other hand are riddled with injury problems, their last goal through a recognized striker came in the April of 2010, something that David Moyes will certainly look to address when his team take the field against
Roy Hodgson’s men.
Phillip Neville, who is Everton’s captain, has come out before the match and the ex-Manchester United man has initiated a war of words. The current league standings give Everton the edge going into this match. Everton’s last result
was a win against Birmingham City at the Saint Andrew’s Stadium whereas Liverpool lost their last match at Anfield to the English Premier League’s minnows.
Neville Jr. is what Neville is more affectionately known as, because of his elder brother, Gary Neville who plays for Manchester United. Phillip’s Manchester United connection means that this match means more to him than any other
player in Blue as not only is he associated to the Merseyside rivalry from the Evertonian perspective but also from a Mancunian one. Neville spoke before the match and said that, the clash between Everton and Liverpool at the Goodison Park is going to be a
massive one. He added fuel to the fire by saying that, the fact that Liverpool are below Everton in the Premier League table.
Neville further commented by saying that, Liverpool’s position below Everton in the Premier League table is something that should be relished as it is perhaps the first time that such an occurrence has taken place since Phillip’s
own move to Everton from Manchester United back in 2005. Phillip said that, Everton’s fans have been looking up to Liverpool for a long time because of their superior position in the English league but now it is about time that the Toffee’s get over that feeling
and try to build on their current position and finish above Liverpool come the end of the season in May of 2010.
Neville Jr. went on to say that, the Everton versus Liverpool, Merseyside derby is perhaps Everton’s biggest game of the season and it is one of the most watched matches in club football. Speaking about his team’s last match against
Birmingham City, Phillip said that the win against Alex McLeish’s boys has given Everton a lift because a loss before the two week international break would’ve been disastrous for their morale.
Everton’s have only got Louis Saha on the casualty table but at Liverpool, Fernando Torres is already a doubt for the Merseyside derby after going off injured in the opening minutes of his team’s match against Blackpool.
Tags: