Frank Lampard has rejected allegations of time-wasting and called on referees to intervene to cut it out ahead of Saturday's Merseyside derby.
Everton players have been accused of time-wasting during their recent Premier League fixtures. Midway through the first-half of their 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Tuesday, Jesse Marsch kept pointing to his watch when Jordan Pickford was taking goal-kicks.
Everton’s players, and Pickford in particular, were also criticised for similar tactics during their game with Liverpool last season. But Lampard has defended his players and called on match officials to stop their watches.
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He said: “No. I have analysed this the last few days. That Leeds game had the most minutes of ball in play this season and I lived the game on the touchline.
“We have a multi-ball system now but the balls aren't right behind the goal. As soon as the ball went out into the crowd they were booing and whistling at Jordan to take the kick quickly when he didn't have the ball in his hand.
"This then related to some movement on the Leeds bench about time. This was about ten minutes into the game. I think a lot of that escalated very quickly. There were a lot of minutes played in that game.”
Before he continued: “The referee is there to control that part of the game and he can stop his watch and add eight minutes to Liverpool like he did the other night.
“We have to be very careful – us as managers – to jump on a game. Because there are loads of moments in other games where teams are seeing out a game where people could say: 'what about your team?”
“So you have to be careful you don't get caught up in double standards. It's very important the referees manage the game well and the players are respectful and don't try to waste time.
“But if the ball is in the stadium [the crowd] I am not expecting Jordan Pickford to sprint 30 steps up and get the ball and bring it back. There is a process. I think there is a balance to it.
“I know it's a talking point at the moment a little bit but if the referee is going to put eight minutes on at Liverpool and they score in the eighth minute then maybe it's because when the ball has gone out of play he has done his job well. For me that's it.”
Darwin Nunez is back from a three-game suspension for Liverpool after he was sent off for a headbutt on Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen last month. But when asked if he had any plans to wind the forward up, Lampard revealed he didn’t.
He said: “No, not to wind him up, and I don’t know why you are even saying that. They are just there to do their job.
“Best way to call it winding up, which I wouldn't, is to do your job right and make it difficult for them. He’s a top quality player and that is why he comes with that price tag.”
Lampard then added on his relationship with Klopp, saying: “I’ve got huge respect for Jurgen Klopp and what he’s done over the last number of years but of course, it’s a Merseyside Derby and I’m here to do my job and I’ll stand up and do my job.”
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