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Marco Silva accused Sam Allardyce of spouting nonsense as the pair’s rivalry over the Everton manager’s job erupted in a war of words.

And Watford head coach Silva scoffed: “Come back and see me when I’m 63 (like Allardyce) and see what I’ve achieved then.”

In seven years of management, Silva has won the Portuguese Cup with Sporting Lisbon and the Greek title with Olympiacos, while Allardyce has failed to win any major trophy in 27 years on the touchline.

But when former England coach Big Sam was unveiled last week – after the Merseysiders had twice been refused permission to approach highly-rated Hornets boss Silva – he bristled at suggestions he was the Blues’ second choice.

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Allardyce said: “Marco Silva’s track record has got no comparison whatsoever with mine. He got Hull City relegated last season.”

Big Sam is now in charge of his seventh Premier League club and the 40-year-old Silva observed after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Tottenham: “I read what he said, but when he made this comparison it does not make sense.

(Image: Getty) (Image: Daily Mirror)

“It is the same thing if I compare his work with a national-team coach like Gareth Southgate.

“It’s like me comparing the five goals Richarlison has scored in the Premier League with Peter Crouch (who has scored 207 goals in his club career). Crouch is nearly 37, Richarlison is 20 – Crouch has played so many games (669) and Richarlison far less.

(Image: Reuters)

“Go and see what he (Allardyce) was doing when he was 40 years old, or see what he was doing in his first seven seasons as a coach. Then look at what I am doing at the same age – or you can wait until I am 63 years old, and then we can compare what I have done.”

Allardyce’s dismissal of Silva’s bid to save Hull, whose threadbare squad looked a lost cause when he replaced the sacked Mike Phelan last January, was disingenuous.

Silva’s record of 1.13 points per game at Hull would have been more than enough to keep them up over a whole season.

And Allardyce, who reached the League Cup final with Bolton 13 years ago, not only overlooked Silva’s trophy successes but also that he led Estoril to promotion in Portugal in his first job as a coach, while Big Sam got sacked by Blackpool in his maiden assignment in the dugout.

Watford are at home to Everton on Saturday, February 24.