Everton boss David Moyes aims double dig to Liverpool and Arne Slot over Alexander Isak and late goals

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Everton manager David Moyes has ramped up the temperature ahead of the Merseyside derby with a double dig towards Liverpool’s start to the season.

Everton have started the season well, with two wins and a draw from their opening four Premier League contests, sitting sixth in the table. Liverpool lead the way with four wins from four – all victories sealed late on.

Liverpool have the momentum following their injury time winner over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League this week, and also boast a formidable record against Everton at Anfield.

So Everton boss Moyes has attempted to get under Liverpool’s skin with some comments over their summer spending and their trend of scoring late winners so far this season.

David Moyes suggests Liverpool striker Alexander Isak cost more than entire Everton squad

David Moyes defended Liverpool’s right to spend extensively this summer, with high profile arrivals of Florian Wirtz for £116m and Alexander Isak for £125m joining Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Hugo Ekitike.

However, Moyes made sure to fire a dig to Liverpool by noting that ‘one player’ costs more than his entire Everton squad. The claim is certainly an exaggeration, with Everton spending over £250m on their current first team squad.

Moyes said: “You have to earn the right [to spend]. You have to win and be in the big competitions to make the money… so from that point of view I think Liverpool are entitled to [spend].

“I heard Arne [Slot] defending himself about that he has brought in a lot and he certainly has done. I still think that they’ve spent more on one player than we have done on a whole squad.”

David Moyes compares Arne Slot to Sir Alex Ferguson with injury time jibe

All of Liverpool’s five wins so far this season in all competitions have come in the 83rd minute or later, and David Moyes feels it is due to a similar approach previously adopted by legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

“We are all aware [of their late goals], it was the same with [Sir Alex] Fergie,” Moyes said. “He used to be getting Fergie time and in the referees ear saying they need to get one second extra time.

“And they kept getting late goals because his team kept preparing themselves to score and I see that as the same with Liverpool.”

Moyes was generally full of praise for Liverpool’s record, but vowed to close the ‘gulf’ between the two Merseyside rivals – starting with Saturday’s Anfield derby.