Richarlison has aimed Virgil van Dijk ahead of the Merseyside derby on Sunday by saying there are three better defenders in the world.
Van Dijk and his Liverpool team-mates are on the cusp of winning the Premier League and need only two additional successes to make sure about the first title in quite a while ahead of their clash with Everton.
They were wanting to make sure about it at their rivals’ home in Goodison Park yet Arsenal failed to take points off Manchester City’s subsequent place. Brazilian forward Richarlison and Everton will be quick to place a square to the title in Liverpool’s path – and he knows Van Dijk must be defeated to do as such.
The Holland international is broadly regarded as one of the world’s best players and has been shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or, completing in last year’s top three and winning the Champions League.
However, 23-year-old Richarlison told Van Dijk that, in late seasons, he is one of just a couple of players to spill past him.
‘Individuals talk about him a ton, yes he’s a great defender however I’ve already spilled past him,’ Richarlison said in a meeting with Desimpedidos about Van Dijk.
‘He was chosen as one of the world’s top three because he’d had a fantastic season. However, truly, there are better defenders available for me.’
Going ahead who is better than Van Dijk, the Brazilian named two of his kinsmen and a star from Real Madrid, answering: ‘Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos.’
Jurgen Klopp also made it clear on Sunday evening that defeating Everton would introduce a challenge to his side.
The manager of Liverpool said: ‘When you analyze Everton, you have to take a gander at Napoli or any other team as well, because Carlo Ancelotti has a particular way he wants to play his team, and he’s long enough to push that through at this point.
‘Thus, it will be a football side, they ‘re going to play as much football as we let them play.
‘We have to discover challenges, win challenges, take advantage of gaps, discover gaps, and all that stuff.’
