Everton boss David Moyes defends Arne Slot's summer of spending but can't resist final dig at rivals Liverpool ahead of Merseyside derby

Liverpool spent a remarkable £446m ($597m) on players this summer, £241m ($325m) of which went on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, something Slot defended - while hitting out at certain pundits as well. Ahead of the Merseyside derby on Saturday, Moyes said Liverpool have "earned the right" to splash the cash, while adding that they have spent more on one player than Everton have on their "whole squad".

He said: "You earn the right to spend money. You have to win and be in the big competitions to make the money. At West Ham, with three years in Europe, it allowed us to spend some money. Liverpool have been entitled to do that and Arne has defended them, saying how much they have brought in. But I still think they have spent more on one player than we have on the whole squad!"

As Moyes alluded to, Everton spent £113m ($153m) on transfers this summer, which is less than Liverpool spent on Bayer Leverkusen star Wirtz alone. Liverpool have won every game they have played in this season but they won the Premier League without making a first-team signing last summer. However, they still have an embarrassment of riches compared to Everton and many others.

After this Merseyside derby, Liverpool begin their Carabao Cup campaign against Championship side Southampton on Tuesday, whereas Everton travel to fellow Premier League side Wolves on the same day in the same competition.