Everton’s youngsters will need no help to motivate themselves when the club’s Under-21s meet their Merseyside rivals, according to boss Paul Tait.
The passion and intensity runs through the derby games regardless of age level and hostilities are set to resume on Sunday. Everton will be seeking to put right the 2-1 loss to Liverpool suffered earlier in the season.
The tie comes as the Premier League Two season nears its climax with Everton currently in eighth place in the 14-team league.
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While mid-table beckons it has been a positive year for the most senior academy side at Finch Farm. The starlets have earned wins over Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain in youth competitions, reached the last 16 of the Papa John’s Trophy after proving competitive against Football League first teams and the likes of Tom Cannon, Stanley Mills and Reece Welch have continued their development.
Cannon’s loan move to Preston North End in January removed the U21s’ most potent threat, while captain Joe Anderson departed for Sunderland on a permanent deal. Work has continued in their absence with Under-18s striker Francis Okoronkwo impressing after Cannon’s move created an opportunity for him to step up.
Everton go into the derby on the back of a disappointing 5-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers in Kidderminster on Monday. Despite that, Tait is confident of an improved showing when his players meet Liverpool in Southport.
Speaking to the club website, he said: “It’s football. It happens. We’re preparing these lads for future careers in the game. In Monday’s game, we weren’t good enough in both boxes. I thought we were good in possession, but we didn’t defend the box well enough. We weren’t clinical enough, especially compared to the week before. We needed to be more ruthless when we created the big chances.
“It can take the confidence away from you when you lose like that. We’ve tried to address that in training, and we’ve tried to lift the boys. It’s important that when you do suffer defeats, you learn from it. It’s a learning opportunity, and through analysis and going through the game together, we’ll hopefully learn from it and bounce back on Sunday.”
One thing Tait is sure his players will not be short of for the derby is motivation. He added: “I don’t think you can get away from it, whatever level it’s at, it's Everton against Liverpool so it’s always going to be a big game. Sunday’s match will look after itself in terms of motivation.
"We’ll be up for it – no matter what. It’s probably the ideal game for us to bounce back. It stimulates that rivalry and that’s what the players will be feeling. Hopefully, it’ll make for a good game. They are a strong team. Liverpool have always put decent teams out against us. It’ll be a tough game, but it’s one that we always look forward to.”
*The match will be available to watch live on Everton’s YouTube channel. Coverage starts at 11.45pm and kick-off is at noon.
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