Everton forward Richarlison believes there are at least three defenders in world football right now that are better than Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.
The two sides meet in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park this Sunday in a game that could see Liverpool move within one win of the Premier League title.
Jurgen Klopp's side have improved drastically at the back since the arrival of Van Dijk in January 2018.
The Dutch defender finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or and was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year last season.
Everton will aim to win their first Merseyside derby since October 2010 this weekend but the Toffees will be going up against the meanest defence in the league.
Speaking to Desimpedidos ahead of the game, Richarlison said: "People talk a lot about him, yes he is a great defender but I’ve already dribbled past him.
"He was chosen as one of the top three in the world as he had an excellent season.
"But yes, for me there are better defenders."
When asked to name the three defenders he believed to be better than Van Dijk, Richarlison replied: "Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos."
It won't be lost on Liverpool supporters that two of the three players are international teammates of Richarlison, while the other is a player that Reds fans will remember for one reason only.
Richarlison scored against Jurgen Klopp's side in December in a 5-2 defeat at Anfield and also played in the 1-0 loss at the same venue in January in the FA Cup.
That was Carlo Ancelotti's first taste of a Merseyside derby but Sunday will be the Italian's first in the Premier League and at Goodison Park, albeit at an empty stadium.
