There have been some excellent Merseyside Derbies over the years, and having characters like Richarlison involved made them even more exciting.
Everton fans will hope Richarlison returns to the club and is involved in more of these games.
It’s unknown if the Brazilian will make a return to the club, but Richarlison promised Everton Champions League football, which still could come to an occurrence.
As good as he was with the Toffees, it was his personality on and off the pitch that made Evertonians adore the forward.
Hightening that admiration is what he said to bitter rival Virgil van Dijk in 2018, which summed him up as a whole.
Richarlison’s brutal comment to Virgil van Dijk in Liverpool vs Everton
Both Richarlison and van Dijk have had their battles over the years, and it seems like the rivalry has lived on.
Only just recently did Richarlison and van Dijk come to blows as it seems like he’s fighting the blue side’s corner to this day.
Well, what he told the Liverpool captain in 2018 showed exactly why Everton fans loved the Brazilian and still do.
It was certainly a memorable derby but not for the right reasons, as Evertonians won’t forget Jordan Pickford’s howler for Divock Origi to bundle home in the 96th minute.
The game was fiery at times, with Richarlison going head to head with three Liverpool players, and he explained to Globo Esporte what he said to van Dijk.
‘”Of course I was never going to back down,” Richarlison said.
“There was a disagreement during the game, which ended up in the typical heated way.
“I was also fighting to waste time, and the Liverpool players did not like it. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez tried to get involved.
“It was nothing out of the ordinary. In the whole fight, we wasted five minutes, which was good for the team.
“I said (to Van Dijk) in Portuguese: ‘Who do you think you are?’ They were defending their colours, and we were defending ours; it was a typical derby.”
READ MORE: The ‘big error’ Merseyside derby referee made earlier this season that cost Everton points
Richarlison is needed at David Moyes’ Everton
David Moyes has now created a unity at Everton that Sean Dyche severely lacked.
But what he doesn’t have is a fiery figure that won’t back down from anyone.
Abdoulaye Doucoure mocked Liverpool fans, which was certainly a display of passion, but no one did it like Richarlison.
The 27-year-old needs to make his return, and Moyes is a big fan of Richarlison, which adds up to the possibility of it happening.
Not only can Richarlison regain his form, but he can add energy to a Moyes side already on the up.
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