Frank Lampard wants Everton to be braver against Chelsea on Saturday than they were last time out against the same opponents.
The Blues secured a crucial 1-0 victory at Goodison Park against Thomas Tuchel's side in the latter stages of the campaign, helping them towards dramatically securing their status in the Premier League this term. Both teams have made moves to improve their respective squads in the time since that game, although it seems neither are finished in the market as of yet.
Lampard knows that bringing new talent into Goodison Park will be a strong way to improve his side and impose a new style on the team. However, he has also highlighted the need to coach the players that are currently at the club, while taking into account the obvious dangers Chelsea will provide.
READ MORE: Everton fans asked to create huge Goodison Park ovation in memory of Izzy O'Connor
READ MORE: 'We can all be very honest' - Frank Lampard explains next steps for Dele at Everton
The Everton boss remarked: "I keep talking about if we bring in players, they have to improve us. If I want to move the ball through the pitch as I'm talking about, then you want to bring in players who can receive the ball and move it in the way you want to.
"Recruitment will help that as we go along, but at the same time we don't have bad players at the club and some of the work has to be our work in how we improve and get the message across. We're somewhere in the middle of that, we can be braver and the message can be more positive in certain decisions you make on the ball.
"But at the same time, you have to understand things that may give Chelsea a problem off the ball. To play in front of Chelsea all game around our 18 yard box, first off our fans won't like that and secondly it will give Chelsea every chance to press us. We have to have a variation of our game to be able to get behind them, those are all things we have to consider."
Everton were pragmatic in their approach the last time Chelsea made the visit to Merseyside and secured what was a crucial 1-0 win. At the beginning of the second half, Richarlison reacted well to a mistake that had been forced in the opposing back line and put the ball into the back of the net - with Jordan Pickford later being called upon to make stunning saves later in the match to secure the three points.
Lampard is keen to keep the organisation and hard defensive work that made their performance a winning one last time out. However, he also believes that his side can perhaps focus on gaining more possession and looking to impress their home support at Goodison Park.
"I think defensively, in terms of the structure of the team, I think we're in a similar position," he added. "You just have to understand that Chelsea are a very good team in possession and if you expose yourself too much, they've got players who are so comfortable and their team is so connected that they can find pockets against the best teams.
"For us in terms of the template of that game I think it'll be, in general, pretty important to stick to the discipline that we showed in that game and the work ethic. On the ball there are some differences and changes we have worked on in pre-season, and could affect how the game looks in terms of our possession.
"But in a lot of these games you have a structure and the game will happen, the players will have to find different solutions. Here we have a lot of the same players truly so I think in terms of how we approach the game it will be a similar mentality.
"But we want to be competitive in the game, there's no doubt, and have as much possession as we possibly can. That generally means you're keeping them away from your goal.
"Being able to play at Goodison and excite our fans, whether we play with an organised team that's ready to counter-attack quickly or whether we're playing with a bit more bravery than maybe we had in the tense moments last season to move the ball through the pitch.
"I think the mentality of not being in the situation we were in at that stage, we were five points short of safety, you're only human and that can affect your decision-making. So maybe we can be more brave and more positive with some of that decision-making."
READ NEXT:
Everton's potential transfer alternatives to Dominic Calvert-Lewin after injury blow
- Idrissa Gueye is a familiar name but Everton could get a different player with transfer
- 'Market negotiations' - Salernitana president issues blunt Allan transfer response amid Everton links
- Farhad Moshiri's £1billion pledge as Everton owner must deliver on transfers and new stadium
- Dwight McNeil makes 'below average' admission and shares Frank Lampard's Everton plan
