Joleon Lescott admits he is enjoying helping Everton force their way out of the shadow of city rivals Liverpool.
Everton defender enjoying life on top on Merseyside
Everton defender Joleon Lescott admits he is enjoying helping the Toffees force their way out of the shadow of city rivals Liverpool.
The two Merseyside foes are battling it out for fourth spot in the Premier League this season as the race for a place in the UEFA Champions League appears set go all the way to the wire.
Everton, who welcome Portsmouth to Goodison Park on Sunday in a match which can be seen live on
Sky Sports 1, currently occupy the box seat.
The Toffees sit fourth and are three points ahead of Liverpool - who travel to Bolton on the same day - in sixth and Lescott is enjoying life in the limelight.
"We don't know what's going on at Liverpool, but if it works in our favour then long may it continue," Lescott told the
News of the World.
"That's not being disrespectful to a great club but I'm sure they have enjoyed rubbing Everton noses in it over the years.
"We need to finish in the top four on a regular basis and then we can say we've arrived as a top-four team. If it's at the expense of Liverpool then I know how sweet that will be for our fans.
"They have been in the shadows of the other lot for too long and would love to have the upper hand for a change."
However, Everton travel to Anfield for what could prove to be a Champions League showdown on 30th March and Lescott is wary of the threat posed by Liverpool, who also have a game in hand over the Toffees.
"There's still a long way to go," Lescott said. "Everyone says Liverpool have had a poor season but they are still only three points behind us with a game in hand."
But Lescott insists there is a new-found confidence among the Everton squad as they attempt to secure a place in Europe's top club competition.
"We go into our games now expecting to get a result, even when we visit places like Manchester United," Lescott added.
"Before it was usually a case of grinding out a result. I think we've moved forward this season but we have to keep doing so."
