Everton boss David Moyes is trying to figure out a way to stop Liverpool talisman Mo Salah from producing more magic in Wednesday's Merseyside derby clash at Anfield
David Moyes
David Moyes gave an honest answer about Mo Salah (Image: Everton FC)
Everton boss David Moyes can't wait to see the back of Mo Salah - even offering him a lift to the airport when he leaves Liverpool. Salah, 32, is having an 'unbelievable season' in the words of Moyes and is expected to sweep up at the end-of-season award ceremonies.
The mountain of accolades will likely come after the Egyptian guides Liverpool to the Premier League title, with the Reds 12 points clear at the top ahead of Wednesday's Merseyside derby. Arsenal can cut that gap down to nine on Tuesday by beating Fulham, but it'd surely go down as the biggest title upset in Premier League history if Salah and Co. somehow don't go on to lift the trophy.
Those impending celebrations could be bittersweet for Salah, though, as the forward's contract with Liverpool expires in June. There's no word on a new deal and Wednesday's match at Anfield may well be the final time that Salah faces Everton and Moyes, who joked that his team need to 'build a wall' to stop him.
The Toffees manager heaped praise on Salah in his pre-match press conference, saying: "He's having an unbelievable season for Liverpool. But let's be fair we're talking about one of the top Premier League players of this generation.
"And it's not just this season, he's been so consistent over most seasons; scoring plenty of goals, plenty of assists, looks as if he plays nearly all the games, very rarely injured. He's been an excellent player for Liverpool."
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Moyes was then asked where Salah ranks among the all-time Premier League greats. "We'll enjoy taking him to the airport and getting him on the plane, getting him out," he cheekily replied.
It's no wonder why Moyes is keen for Salah to leave, with the 32-year-old having scored eight goals and provided four assists against the Scot's West Ham and Everton sides down the years. Salah looked to have netted the winner against Everton in February's derby, only for the Toffees to score a controversial 98th-minute equaliser.
Moyes is determined to match that result or go one better at Anfield, where Everton have only won once in the last 26 years - and that game was behind closed doors. "Liverpool's league position shows how they are playing," he added.
What score will the Merseyside derby be? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"They've had a couple of tough games but that can happen. It's a big game. It's always been incredibly difficult to go to Anfield and get a result. But, we've got an opportunity to try again. It would be huge for us as a club to get that. It is not something we have done often."
It's also personal for Moyes. Across his time at Everton, Manchester United, Sunderland and West Ham, he's been to Anfield on 21 occasions but has a record of zero wins, 14 defeats and 36 goals conceded.
Asked if that record bothers him, Moyes admitted: "Yeah, I don't want it. I want to win and I want to get rid of it if I can."
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