Liverpool midfielder and captain Steven Gerrard has labelled Merseyside rivals Everton ‘a long-ball team’ and ‘similar to Stoke’, after the teams drew 2-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday.

It seems to be slight sour grapes from the England international. I may be biased but it sounds like a slightly bitter statement to make.

Gerrard told the media: “I thought we were fantastic and stood up to a team that are very similar to Stoke,”

“Every single time they get the ball to the goalkeeper it comes in long. Everton are effective because they have some big, physical lads in the team.

We had a young, small team out there who were men and stuck together. There was only one team who came to play football and that was us. Everton are not better than us.”

Missing

On their day Everton can outplay most teams in the top flight. Everton were without two of their midfield lynchpins in Darron Gibson and Steven Pienaar, which reflected on the Toffee’s style of play in the derby.

Then one of Everton’s best players in the first half Kevin Mirallas was crudely taken out of the game by striker Luis Suarez. If that’s going out to play then I’d hate to see Liverpool not playing.

Even

Gerrard may say that Everton are not better than Liverpool, but the two teams are now far closer in terms of quality. Had Everton had all their players fit then the Toffee’s would probably have got the better of the Anfield outfit.

However, Everton never seem to be able to field their strongest team against their rivals, but Liverpool had basically been able to select their strongest team, apart from full-back Glen Johnson.

What Steven Gerrard’s statement tells me is that Liverpool are now afraid that their rivals are far closer to them in terms of quality. However, I think that the midfielder should have shown more class than coming out with such an inflammatory statement.

Are Everton a long-ball team?