Steven Gerrard plays down importance of Everton's position above Liverpool

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has said that Everton finishing above the Reds in the Premier League is "no big deal".

The two Merseyside outfits face off on Sunday, with Everton just one place above Liverpool, but five points ahead.

"If Everton finish above us and their supporters are really happy and their players and everyone is really happy, then that's up to them," Gerrard told reporters.

"But if we finish above Everton, there will be no celebrating or anything around here because it's nothing really.

"It's no big deal. We want to win the derby of course we do. We want to finish above Everton, of course we do. In the big picture, is it really important?"

The Toffees will be guaranteed to finish ahead of their neighbours for a second successive season if they win at Anfield in the Premier League for the first time in 14 years.