Everton’s participation in the Sydney Super Cup will see the Blues playing overseas friendlies during the season for the first time in 25 years as they make their fourth trip to Australia. Following their 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth last Saturday, Frank Lampard’s side will not resume Premier League action until Boxing Day when they host bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers due to a break because of the World Cup finals in Qatar.
The Blues will be filling the void with a lucrative invitation to compete in the inaugural edition of a tournament called the Sydney Super Cup. Local A-League sides Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers will also take part alongside Celtic with Everton taking the place of the Scottish champions’ Old Firm rivals Rangers who withdrew from the mini tournament back in July.
Everton open with a game against Celtic at the 83,500 capacity Accor Stadium – built for the 2000 Olympic Games – on Sunday. They then face West Sydney Wanderers at their CommBank Stadium home, which holds 30,000, next Wednesday.
