Everton boss Ronald Koeman has rather spectacularly claimed that the Merseyside derby is bigger than El Classico, suggesting 'nothing will compare.'
The Toffees welcome Jurgen Klopp's high-flying Liverpool side to Goodison Park for the first time this season, with both sides coming off the back of important wins in the previous week and looking to jump up the table ahead of a busy Christmas schedule.
And according to theMirror, despite being part of the hugely successful Barcelona side who battled with Real Madrid in La Liga from 1989 to 1995, the Dutch manager has insisted that the Merseyside derby is bigger than the Spanish clash, or any other derbies he has been involved in,citing the country's football culture that edges it over the rest.
"As a Barcelona player, I have been involved in a big number of confrontations between Barca and Real," said Koeman.
When it comes to atmosphere and attraction, that match is rated as the most beautiful in Spain and in the world, because apart from the rivalry there is a political edge to this game.
Barca versus Real used to bring out the best of me. Always.
Everton boss Ronald Koeman: I promise I will celebrate and run to the corner flag if we beat Liverpool #efc #LFChttps://t.co/xn5CtQIg9u pic.twitter.com/EF1ONTOSwb
As a player of Ajax and Feyenoord Rotterdam, I have also been on both sides in the Dutch classic.
But the Everton versus Liverpool derby in the city where I work now is bigger with emotions because of the incredible football culture in this country.
On Monday night it is my Blues against Jurgen Klopp's Reds in my first big Merseyside derby.�
Should Koeman's Everton get the better the Klopp's Reds on Monday Night Football, the blue side of Merseyside could see their team jump into seventh in the table, while Liverpool will be looking to close the gap on league leaders Chelsea.