Everton striker Neal Maupay has opened up on the 'frustration' of missing a chance against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby and says he already feels part of the 'family' at Goodison Park.
The 26-year-old joined Everton from Brighton in the summer transfer window and he scored his first goal for the club against West Ham before the international break. The 1-0 home victory elevated the Blues to 13th in the table and they've so far collected seven points from seven games.
Maupay could have opened his account with a goal against rivals Liverpool earlier this month, but was denied by goalkeeper Alisson. And he's now opened up on missing a big chance against the Reds and also discussed how settled he already feels at Everton.
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"I’ve been an Everton player for around three weeks but I already feel part of the club and part of the family," he told evertonfc.com. "The players have welcomed me very well and the manager makes sure everyone feels good and feels happy in the team.
"The fans have also been fantastic with me. The atmosphere is so good at Goodison Park and I feel their support every day. Even in the city, I’ve bumped in to so many Everton fans and they all say, ‘we are all behind you, all the best’. You can feel this city is full of Evertonians and it’s great to be part of this atmosphere and part of this club.
"Sunday’s victory over West Ham was massive for us and I believe we deserved it. Our performances had been good but you need the points. It was crucial to get the win just before the international break. Of course, it was an extra special day for me as I scored my first goal for Everton. It meant a lot.
"Against Liverpool in the previous match, I had a big chance in the second half but couldn’t score. I was a bit frustrated, but my team-mates all told me, ‘you played well, you gave everything and you helped us to get a point’."
Everton return to action after the international break with a trip to the south coast to face Southampton. They then face a challenging run against Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle.
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