4 1GS Saturday April 30 2022 | the times
Sport Football
There is so much uncertainty engulfing
Everton that it felt timely for Frank
Lampard to offer a little clarity.
Should the worst come to the worst
— and Lampard is refusing to counte-
nance the club’s 68-year stay in the top
flight being broken on his watch — the
Everton manager will not walk away
from the wreckage.
“I am very committed,” the 43-year-
old said, somewhat reluctant to be
drawn on the scenario. “I really don’t
want to get into the headlines, or ins
and outs of that, but absolutely [I am
committed].
“Sometimes people from the outside
ask me, because of the position we are
in, [are you] enjoying it? How tough is
it? All the pressures of it? I absolutely
love it. In terms of my dedication to the
job, I will absolutely give it everything
for as long as Everton want me here.”
Throughout Lampard’s first three
turbulent months in which Everton
have suffered never-ending injury set-
backs, it has been clear that he possess-
es the stomach for the scrap.
The visit tomorrow of Chelsea, a club
with whom he is synonymous as a
player and for 18 months as a manager,
marks the first of six fixtures that will
determine whether Everton clamber
out of the relegation zone, which has
been an unwanted home since last
weekend’s Merseyside derby defeat.
Lampard touched upon his affinity
for Chelsea, revealed one day that he
hopes to have a meal with Thomas
Tuchel, who succeeded him in January
2021, and likened Anthony Gordon, the
Everton winger, to Mason Mount in
terms of his attitude. But, ultimately, it
was not the time to reminisce.
“It doesn’t feel that is the important
part of it,” Lampard said. “My only
thought is Everton and preparing to
win a game.”
The Everton supporters are also ral-
lying round in their club’s hour of need.In December, there were protests
against the board of directors and the
reckless spending that has come to de-
fine the reign of owner Farhad Moshiri.
Tomorrow, some fans plan to line the
tight streets surrounding the stadium
and deliver a rousing welcome to the
team coach in an attempt to impress
upon the players just what is at stake.
And then, just like Lampard, they
must take their seats and hope and pray,
not quite sure what their team will
serve up. There have been spells in
recent games in which Everton have
done well, but it is about producing over
90 minutes. Being clinical when they
have to be and standing resolute in the
moments when Chelsea will undoubt-
edly dominate.teams around them, and sought to work
out who will get points where. Only to
scrunch up the piece of paper in the
knowledge it is a nonsensical task.
Everton have been underdogs in their
past three games against Manchester
United, Leicester City and Liverpool
and have picked up four points. TheyI will not walk away even if
we go down, says Lampard
Paul Joyce
Lampard was pleased with how his
team performed at Anfield on Sunday,
but it will not have escaped his gaze that
the two goals Liverpool scored came
from headers in the six-yard box.
The added factor for Everton is that
the scoreboard pressure will ramp up
should Burnley maintain their im-
provement under caretaker manager
Michael Jackson at Watford, whose
own cause feels hopeless.
Another Burnley win would lift them
five points clear and level with Leeds
United who, with Manchester City,
Arsenal and Chelsea to play, are viewed
as vulnerable. Yet Jesse Marsch’s Leeds
have not lost in five league games.
Momentum is everything at this
stage and Burnley’s attempt to orches-
trate a great escape is testament to their
character after the dismissal of Sean
Dyche.
“I saw the press came out and said,
‘What are Burnley doing letting their
manager go?’” said the club’s defender
Connor Roberts. “But we had a meeting
and said the only thing we can do is try
to prove all those people wrong. We can
only do that by picking up points. It’s
got off to a fairly decent start.”
Lampard admitted that there have
been occasions when he has mulled
over Everton’s fixtures, and those of the- Leeds United
(34 points)
Played 33 GD -30
Today, 5.30pm
Man City (H), Sky Sports
May 8 Arsenal (A)
May 11 Chelsea (H)
May 15 Brighton (H)
May 22 Brentford (A)
17. Burnley (31 points)
Played 33 GD -16
Today, 3pm Watford (A)
May 7 Aston Villa (H)
May 15 Tottenham (A)
May 19 Aston Villa (A)
May 22 Newcastle (H)
18. Everton (29 points)
Played 32 GD -21
Tomorrow, 2pm
Chelsea (H), Sky Sports
May 8 Leicester City (A)
May 11 Watford (A)
May 15 Brentford (H)
May 19 Crystal Palace H)
May 22 Arsenal (A)
Relegation run-ins