Everton need to prevent a recent pattern from becoming a trend if they are to give themselves the best chance of taking something from the Merseyside Derby.
The Blues have conceded early goals - and early chances - in several games, hampering their ability to gain a foothold in matches. Accepting the need to address this ahead of the trip to Anfield, Frank Lampard said it was something his squad was working on.
With Liverpool’s potency in the opening minutes providing the foundation for their last two victories, Lampard acknowledged “it is important that we do everything we can to stop that”.
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Everton conceded after just 12 minutes in their battle against relegation rivals Burnley earlier this month. Nathan Collins’ opener came after the Clarets started on the front foot at Turf Moor, though Everton fought back before ultimately losing that tie. On Wednesday, Harvey Barnes prodded home for Leicester City after just five minutes while James Maddison almost doubled the visitors’ lead moments later as Everton struggled in the early stages of a game that had been earmarked by many supporters as a major opportunity for a crucial three points.
Of the limited threat posed by Manchester United, most of the danger came in the opening 25 minutes, Jordan Pickford making two important saves before Anthony Gordon’s decisive strike. In contrast, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are renowned for starting on the front foot.
Early goals have proved key to recent, important victories over both Manchester rivals. In the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City last Saturday Ibrahima Konate opened the scoring after 12 minutes. Luis Diaz needed just five minutes to break the deadlock as Liverpool humiliated Manchester United on Tuesday.
With Liverpool heavy favourites ahead of Everton’s trip to Anfield, addressing the recent run of difficult starts will be crucial to Frank Lampard’s game-plan. He had focused on the importance of starting well in preparation for the Leicester City game, only to see Barnes quickly give the away side the lead.
Asked about addressing the issue by the ECHO, Lampard said: “It is something that we did pre-warn the team about. In the first batch of 10 games up until the international break we were starting games well. The games we lost away from home we had started pretty well and the goal changed the game maybe after 10-15 minutes so it is important, hugely important. and as a coach you cannot help but reiterate that all the time because it sets the tone of a game.
“I spoke about it a lot before Leiceste r and then they scored after five minutes. As a coach you do have to understand it can happen but we don’t want it to be a regular thing. A team with the qualities of Liverpool, they want to use intensity early to get ahead, get the crowd with them and build up momentum. So it is important that we do everything we can to stop that.”
The discipline required to stifle Liverpool in those early minutes will be key to Everton’s chances of securing a much-needed point - or three points - from the match. During his playing career Lampard was often in the situation Liverpool’s players will find themselves in on Sunday - playing for a team in the hunt for success. When he came up against sides fighting at the other end of the table he found the early stages were key to how matches would play out. Key to knocking favourites out of their stride was preventing them from playing to their strengths.
Lampard explained: “We know the sort of things that Liverpool are good at doing. There's a load of individual talent in their team, it's an incredibly well-built squad. But the things they want to do, in higher areas of the pitch, the speed at which they do it, you have to try and stop that, which comes back to the good organisation, work ethic and discipline. I've played against it a lot of times, and the early parts of the game become so important because they really do dictate the feeling of a game like this and if we can maintain a foothold in the game then of course it's a big deal for us.”
