Everton news: Pundit issues ‘promising’ relegation verdict as tactical change mooted
Frank Lampard’s Everton set-up against Liverpool showed “promising” signs for their potential Premier League survival, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the 43-year-old will have to “fine-tune” the system in order to become “more expansive” against lesser teams.
Everton frustrated Liverpool for 62 minutes on Sunday (24 April) before Andy Robertson opened the deadlock – even carving out opportunities of their own despite having just 19% of the ball.
As quoted by the BBC after the eventual 2-0 loss, Lampard insisted he was happy with the performance and proud of his players’ “work rate” during the derby clash.
The former Chelsea boss has won just three of his 12 Premier League games since taking the Everton job in January.
Whelan insisted Lampard got his tactics “spot-on” for the Anfield trip.
“I didn’t mind the tactics from Frank Lampard against Liverpool,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“I thought he got the set-up spot-on. You can’t go to Anfield and take the game to them, or you’ll get taken apart.
“He was right with the set-up. They were there to defend and hold out, but as soon as that goal goes in – you have to come out, and that goes out the window.
“They created opportunities as well, let’s not forget. If they can take that into other games, and fine-tune it – they could find something really promising.
“The way he frustrated Liverpool in the first hour was spot-on, but he’ll have to be a bit more expansive to get the points on the board in the coming weeks.”
Everton have slipped into the relegation zone after Sunday’s loss.
The Toffees face Chelsea, Leicester, Watford, Brentford, Crystal Palace, and Arsenal as they try to preserve their top-flight status.
In other news, Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin reveals stance on Arsenal move.