Frank Lampard has refused to criticise Newcastle United's owners and recent transfer spending. The Everton boss was asked if it was 'fair' the Magpies are backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) ahead of the clash at St James' Park on Wednesday night.
Eddie Howe has been backed by spending in excess of £200 million across two transfer windows as Newcastle look to disrupt the so-called 'Big Six'. The head coach has also brought about improvements in a number of players already at the club, and the Magpies have so far lost just once in the current campaign.
Lampard has not been blessed with similar support in the market since replacing Rafa Benitez in the Goodison Park hotseat in January. The Toffees have had to limit their spending to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) requirements, having invested sizeable sums with mixed results in recent seasons.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe warns Jurgen Klopp to be careful as Newcastle boss hits back at Liverpool manager
Everton sit two points above the relegation zone, and five points adrift of Newcastle who currently occupy a top-six spot. Lampard was asked in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday whether it was 'fair' for Newcastle to be able to call upon the significant resources of the PIF, and questioned the value of FFP in his response.
He told reporters: "I think in modern football, everyone has a different position, a different perspective and sometimes it changes. Sometimes it's the reason we embrace and love the Premier League.
"I lived the Chelsea story as a player, I viewed it and touched on it as a Manchester City player for a year. There are a lot of stories purely from a football level which you can embrace and love.
"I saw City got voted the club of the year last night for the many good things I know they do on and off the pitch. So everybody is different.
"Financial Fair Play is a bit strange for me, I never understand it because if it was financially fair, there are a lot of teams who have lot more income than we do who can spend a lot more on players and wages. That's the story of the modern game, it's all relative."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp claimed last week there are 'three clubs in world football who can do what they want financially', before addressing Dan Ashworth's comments about Newcastle having 'no ceiling' on their long-term ambitions. Lampard accepted his Merseyside rival's frustrations, but refused to condemn the impact of the spending from clubs like City and even praised his former side as 'fantastic example' for all to follow.
He added: "Liverpool have competed with them [City] with great coaching, great players, and great recruitment. They brought in Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, all of these players.
"While being strong, they can keep strengthening and changing. Maybe you view it at this moment in time with Liverpool and the form they have had, they're clearly going to be back up amongst it.
"I understand what he's saying to a degree, I can probably say the same when we talk about Newcastle. We're not there because they can spend £200 million in two windows and we can't. Our net spend is much less.
"If that's his point, I completely get it. But I think the debate afterwards which has carried on is questioning whether it should be allowed, and are these clubs competing at a different level.
"Maybe they are, but maybe that's just the Premier League and the way that it is. I don't think it's the worst thing, I particularly look at the story I was involved in as a player and Manchester City which I touched on, and particularly when I think about City and how they handle themselves on and off the pitch, I think they are a fantastic example. That's my opinion."
READ NEXT
Alexander Isak unknown injury fact emerges from Newcastle United press conference
'He's surprised me', Sven Botman quality that has left Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe delighted
Howe says Schar has been playing through pain barrier, and talks Trippier and Bruno assessments
'An exciting journey' - Newcastle United land man with big links to Adidas and Amazon Prime
