Friday’s News Round-up

Everton boss David Moyes has today put the pressure on Liverpool to grind out good results or face losing their Champions League spot to Everton.

Although the Toffees manager admits the Reds will still be favourites to finish fourth, their recent bad form now leaves Rafael Benitez’s men in 7th place in the Premier League.

Ahead of his side’s trip to Blackburn Rovers this weekend, Moyes said, “Competition for fourth is very high, but I still believe Liverpool are favourites for that place, they have the game in hand on everyone and I expect them to get there.

“They would still be the favourites. But we are in there pushing, fighting for that Champions League spot.

“It is too early at the moment to talk about it, everything can change because it is so close.”

Holland coach Marco van Basten has revealed why he has left Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt out of the latest Dutch squad to face Croatia in a friendly on February 6th, claiming he simply isn’t good enough.

Kuyt has had a bad season for Liverpool and is currently on somewhat of a long-term goal drought. van Basten says, “The system we had can be compared with Liverpool’s… and his performances are not good enough.”

Ahead of tomorrow’s 5.15pm kick-off at Anfield between Liverpool and Sunderland, Mackem’s boss and former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane says he has a lot of respect for Liverpool.

Despite past rivalries, the retired Republic of Ireland international says he has always been impressed with the manager, players and fans of the club.

“Obviously I had a great rivalry with them when I was a United player but I always had a great respect for Liverpool as a football club and hopefully that will never change.

“They didn’t give me any better or worse receptions than a lot of players that go to Anfield, if you play for their main rivals you’ll always get a bit of stick.”