The China Mail - Gulf between Everton and Liverpool has never been bigger, says Moyes

Liverpool are cruising towards a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title with a 12-point lead at the top of the table.

Everton are down in 15th, 36 points behind their local rivals, despite a nine-game unbeaten Premier League run since Moyes returned to the club for a second spell in January.

"We might be further away from Liverpool than we have ever been at the moment," Moyes said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

"By the time I had left here maybe 10 years ago we were much closer to Liverpool, we were competitive, competing around the same areas of the league at the time.

"I think at the moment it is the biggest gulf between the two clubs."

Even when the clubs were closer together in the league table, Moyes endured a miserable record at Anfield.

In 21 attempts as manager of Everton, Manchester United, Sunderland and West Ham, the Scot has failed to win away to Liverpool, drawing on seven occasions.

"I would be lying if I said I look forward to going to it all the time because it has been such a hard place to get results," added Moyes.

"It's nothing to do with the surrounds, nothing to do with the pitch, nothing to do with anything else, it is to do with them (Liverpool) always producing good teams.

"I think every team in the Premier League, when they go to Anfield, has a game on their hands."

Liverpool will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold due to injury in what may well be the last Merseyside derby before his expected move to Real Madrid.

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, meanwhile, could be facing Everton for the final time, with their contracts expiring at the end of the season.

Salah has scored eight times in 12 derby appearances and Moyes said he and most of the Evertonian faithful will be delighted should the Egyptian leave Liverpool.

"We will enjoy taking him to the airport and getting him on the plane and getting him out!", he joked.

B.Carter--ThChM