'A different level' - Nathan Patterson names Liverpool winger as toughest Everton opponent

Everton full-back Nathan Patterson has named a star of Merseyside rivals Liverpool as the toughest opponent he has faced since joining the Blues.

Patterson made the switch from Ibrox to Goodison Park in January, signing a five-year deal with the Toffees. After a period of adaption to English football and a spell on the side lines with an ankle injury that required surgery, Patterson eventually made his first team Premier League debut against Chelsea on August 6 and has since gone on to make 12 appearances in all competitions this season.

But when asked which opposition player has presented him with the greatest challenge so far in his short Everton career, Liverpool's Luis Diaz was the answer.

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As reported by the Daily Record, Patterson said: “The Premier League is a different level, even from playing at Rangers. There’s at least 50,000 in the different stadiums every week so it’s great to have that pressure on you. Playing against top players every week is only going to benefit me.

“It’s brilliant because at a young age I’m getting to challenge myself on a regular basis. What a league this is. The best I’ve played against so far is probably Diaz in the Liverpool game at Goodison. That was a proper test and I felt I did well. But honestly, everyone down here is top quality.”

Despite still being in the early stages of his Premier League career, Patterson is already a full Scottish international, having come off the bench to face Croatia at Euro 2020 (held in 2021) before being given his first competative start against Moldova in a World Cup qualifier in September 2021.

The 21-year-old scored his first full international goal against the same opponents two months later, helping Scotland to secure a World Cup play-off berth in the process.

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