Here are your Everton FC morning headlines for Saturday, October 8.
Manchester United visit chance to show progress
Sunday’s visit of Manchester United will provide an acid test to show how far Frank Lampard’s Everton have come, according to Graeme Souness.
The Blues host Erik Ten Hag’s Red Devils at the unusual time of 7pm on Sunday - see why here - and could produce their first three-game winning run since last September, following wins against West Ham United and Southampton.
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Those results are just rewards for a season in which Lampard’s side have looked more robust and solid in defence - they have the best defensive record in the league, conceding just seven goals in eight games.
That record will be tested by a United side full of talent, with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford rejuvenated under Ten Hag. But Souness believes that Sunday’s clash offers a real opportunity for the Toffees to show just how far they have come since last season’s relegation scares.
See what Souness had to say here.
Lampard on Iwobi
Frank Lampard believes Alex Iwobi is 'one of the top midfielders in the Premier League at the moment' - thanks mainly to the player's own efforts.
Iwobi has been in outstanding form so far this season, taking advantage of an early injury crisis to secure his place in Everton’s midfield - where he is one of only two players to play every league minute, alongside James Tarkowski - and become a fan-favourite at Goodison Park.
His influence alongside Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana in the midfield three is just the latest in an incredible career revival, with the 26-year-old enjoying the best moment of his career since Lampard’s arrival in January.
And the Blues boss, speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, claimed Iwobi to be one of the league’s best midfielders on current form - adding that the only person to praise for his upward trajectory is Iwobi himself.
See what Lampard had to say here.
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