OPINION
There are big claims, and then there are big claims, but it’s fair to say that Adrian Durham’s latest comments on Everton midfielder Tom Davies fall under the category of “absolute whopper”.
The talkSPORT host has gone on record as suggesting that the Toffees’ starlet can be as good as, if not better than Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, and many Kopites must surely be scraping their jaws up off the floor after hearing such a bold claim.
Speaking on his own show, Durham said: “You know what he is, Tom Davies? He is Everton’s opportunity to produce their own Steven Gerrard.
“That’s what he is. If Everton get this right with Tom Davies, then he could be as good, if not better than Steven Gerrard was for Liverpool.”
"I really like Tom Davies." ?
"He is #EFC's opportunity to produce their own Steven Gerrard."
"If Everton get this right, then he could be as good, if not better than Gerrard was for Liverpool." ?@talkSPORTDrive on Everton's Tom Davies.
Thoughts on this? ? pic.twitter.com/bf0GbAgULC
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 11, 2019
Now, Davies isn’t a bad player, and he certainly has the potential to go on and become an England international, but to compare him to Gerrard, and everything he achieved in the game, is ridiculous.
So far this season, for instance, the 21-year-old has averaged two tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game, as well as a fairly paltry 0.7 successful dribbles and no key passes, as per Whoscored.
Those are hardly the stats of a player who is going to replicate the wild success that Gerrard had during his spell at Anfield.
Moreover, Gerrard is remembered as such a legend largely because of the impact he had in helping to guide the Reds to silverware.
He was instrumental in Istanbul in 2005, helping to inspire one of the greatest comebacks in European footballing history, and he was effective in the 2006 FA Cup final against West Ham that many people still refer to it as the “Gerrard Final”.
It’s hard to see how Davies can get anywhere near that level of notoriety in this current Everton squad, and unless he does, or seeks a move elsewhere, then he will never properly match Gerrard, despite his potential.
