Watch Everton vs Liverpool on Sky Sports Premier League at 4.15pm on Super Sunday
Friday 1 March 2019 22:07, UK
Marco Silva has hit back at Jurgen Klopp's claim that the Merseyside derby is like a World Cup final for Everton.
Premier League leaders Liverpool travel to Goodison Park on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, hoping to extend their unbeaten run against the Toffees to 19 matches in all competitions.
Speaking ahead of last month's goalless draw with Manchester United, Klopp appeared to suggest the upcoming derby meant more to Everton than Liverpool.
"You have Everton, and we all know for them, it's a kind of World Cup final," said Klopp.
The last meeting between the two sides ended in a dramatic 1-0 victory for Liverpool, after Divock Origi punished a mistake from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Klopp was charged with misconduct for running onto the pitch after the winning goal and Silva says the German's jubilant celebrations at Anfield are proof that the derby is of major significance to Liverpool.
"It is a special game for both, for the city also, for our fans a special match, for their fans also a special match," said Silva.
"I didn't see a big difference. I managed my first Merseyside derby last December and what I felt was a special match for both teams.
"They celebrated that lucky goal - that lucky moment they had in the last seconds of the match - (like it) was the final of a World Cup for us and for them."
On Friday, Klopp appeared to backtrack on his previous comments - insisting the match is of the same significance to both clubs on Merseyside.
"I said a thing a couple of weeks ago when we spoke about the upcoming games," he said.
"Everybody spoke only about Bayern Munich or only about Manchester United. Nobody really spoke about Watford or Everton.
"But they are all important and for us, we are Liverpool, we play against Everton and for us it is like a World Cup final as well. That is how it is.
"It is not a World Cup final, obviously, but it is a very, very, very important game in the season. Not only because of the situation, but because of the history."
