On-loan Everton forward Romelu Lukaku has refused to say whether or not he feels that he is a better striker than his Belgian international teammate Christian Benteke.

The two are great friends off the field, but will be on opposite sides of the pitch on Saturday when the Toffees travel to face Benteke's Aston Villa in the West Midlands.

Even though they compete for a place in the Belgian lineup, Lukaku has insisted that any rivalry he has with the Villa star is a friendly one, and stressed that it is not up to him to declare who is the better player.

"A rivalry is when you don't like a person, he told Sky Sports News. "I like Christian very much as a person, as a human being and as player as well.

"We were together all the time during the international break and we speak all the time. I have known him since I was 14 years old. Our families know each other.

"It is up to other people to judge. I would never say I was the best. I just want to improve and entertain people."

Lukaku has scored four goals in six Premier League appearances this season, while Benteke has found the net three times in the same amount of top-flight games.