COUTINHO UNCONCERNED BY ‘IMPROVED’ EVERTON
LIVERPOOL midfielder Philippe Coutinho cannot see his side slipping below local rivals Everton by the end of the season as the teams gear up for a Premier League Merseyside derby today .
Everton, currently three places behind their fourth-placed city rivals in the league table, can cut the gap to three points with a victory at Anfield.
Coutinho said he was concentrating on Liverpool’s progress.
“I don’t think about (Everton’s form) or worry about that,” Coutinho said.
“We will be ready. The derby is a very special match for everyone, the fans and the players.”
Liverpool are unbeaten in Merseyside encounters since 2010 but will face a Ronald Koeman side that have picked up 23 of 30 points since the turn of the year.
Coutinho acknowledged Everton’s recent progress and said it would mean a lot more to the fans if Liverpool could find a way to win the derby.
“We know what it means… this time it is even more because Everton have improved so much in recent weeks,” he added.
“We know it won’t be easy but we know we have to win, for our fans, for our morale and for everybody.”
Liverpool have lost one out of their 14 league games at Anfield this season, scoring 36 goals and conceding 13 in the process.
Meanwhile, Everton club captain Phil Jagielka has said full back Seamus Coleman’s long-term injury will act as a further incentive for the squad ahead of the derby.
Coleman, who could be out of action for up to a year, underwent surgery last weekend following a double leg fracture suffered during international duty with Ireland on Saturday.
Jagielka is hoping the team will be able to speak with Coleman ahead of the Merseyside derby and a visit to Manchester United three days later.
“There are two massive games coming up and that’s one thing Seamus will want us to do, to play well and get some good results,” Jagielka said on the club website.
“There’ll be no incentive needed but the circumstances over the last few days might add a bit of a motivational edge on our behalf.
“We want to go out there and play well and it will be really nice if we can all get to speak to Seamus beforehand.”
Everton, who are seventh in the league, last won at Anfield in 1999, while their last victory at Old Trafford came in 2013. Both Liverpool and Manchester United have lost once at home in the league this season.