Stretty News spoke to Toffee Web writer Lyndon Lloyd – a lifelong Evertonian – ahead of Saturday’s early kick-off.
Everton visit Old Trafford in difficult circumstances because they face another relegation scrap. The difference this time is they’ve got Sean Dyche to save them as opposed to Frank Lampard.
United are looking to do the double over Everton but it won’t be easy. It’s rarely a stroll in the park when United take on the Toffees regardless of their league position.
Lyndon Lloyd gives us an Everton perspective ahead of the game. You can follow Toffee Web on Twitter here: @toffeeweb
It hasn’t been a good season for Everton, but you’ve managed good results of late – against Chelsea and Tottenham – since getting a thumping against Arsenal. Do you think you can cause another upset at Old Trafford on Saturday?
Lyndon: “The result at Arsenal was a little harsh but I think it underscored just how good Mikel Arteta’s side are as well as some of the defensive deficiencies at Everton that Sean Dyche was trying to get to grips with.
“I think on the back of the results you mention and the general uplift in confidence in the team since Dyche took charge, Everton will travel believing they can cause upset over United. It certainly feels as though they’re capable of it but while a very rare win at Old Trafford is unlikely, I wouldn’t rule out the Blues frustrating the Red Devils and coming away with a draw.”
What’s the general feeling among Everton fans about Sean Dyche being the potential saviour from this year’s relegation battle – a year on from when Frank Lampard did it?
Lyndon: “Frank Lampard had the advantage of Richarlison leading the line when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was unavailable whereas Sean Dyche has had to fashion a side that can score goals in other ways while focusing heavily on the mentality, togetherness and the fitness of the players. That has made us much harder to beat and, in that sense, Dyche has been the best possible hire for a team in our predicament and with our attacking short-comings.
There has been a heavy reliance on wing play and set-pieces to create chances and you would expect from a Dyche outfit but Everton can play some decent football when they’re in the mood. It’s getting consistency and the right decision-making in the final third that has been challenging but, overall, the new manager has done brilliantly.”
Which United player, if any, would you like to see at Everton?
Lyndon: “Given our chronic lack of suitable or fit strikers — Calvert-Lewin hasn’t started a game since the beginning of February and is highly unlikely to play any part this weekend, while Neal Maupay was an ill-advised acquisition born of a lack of other alternatives at the end of the Summer 2022 transfer window — I would have to say Marcus Rashford. We were linked with him on loan a few years back when he was just breaking into the United side and he would have been a good signing even then.
Obviously, since then he has blossomed into an excellent all-round forward, the kind we could really do with at Goodison Park!”
Will Everton avoid relegation?
Lyndon: “The final few weeks of Lampard’s tenure were pretty grim and I think had he remained in charge, I’m fairly sure we would be heading for the Championship but I’m quietly confident that we will have enough under Dyche to be safe again this season. We would be in 8th place in a table based on Premier League results since he came on board so we have upward momentum whereas a few sides around us have been going the other way.
“Throw in the power of Goodison Park’s 12th man, continued improvement under Dyche, the gradual emergence of young striker Ellis Simms and the possible return of Calvert-Lewin over the run-in and I think we’ll be okay.”
Which players should we watch out for on current form?
Lyndon: “Before his sending off against Tottenham last Monday, I would have said Abdoulaye Doucouré but he will begin a three-match suspension this weekend for his unforgivable red card against Tottenham. He was providing the energy in the press and the link between the midfield and Demarai Gray up front so he will be a big miss.
On current form, I would say that United will have to look out for Dwight McNeil as he is our primary source of crosses from the left flank and James Tarkowski who somehow sees to get on the end of every set-piece delivered into the opposition box. Oh, and maybe close down Michael Keane if he gets the ball within 25 yards of goal!”
What do you think of Manchester United a) the club; b) the team; c) the fans and d) the manager?
Lyndon: “We’ve been on the end of so many defeats by Man United that it’s difficult to hold any affection for them! Added to that is the standard Scouse-Manc rivalry and the fact that we’ve only won twice at Old Trafford in the Premier League era, which is pretty embarrassing. Like ours, though, your fans have come together to campaign against unpopular ownership so there’s a respect on that score
“In terms of the manager, Erik ten Hag is the man I was hoping Everton might have been able to attract instead of the fateful decision to appoint Rafael Benitez in the summer of 2021 but we weren’t a big enough draw for him. The odd strange result aside, he appears to be doing a decent job for United so far, though, and we’re expecting a very hard game this weekend.”
High and low point as an Everton fan this season?
Lyndon: “There have been many low points — the back-to-back defeats at Bournemouth just before the World Cup and the home losses to relegation rivals Wolves and Southampton come to mind — but the horrendous 4-1 collapse at Goodison Park against Brighton on 3rd January was the moment where it was clear Lampard needed to go and that there was a real danger we might get sucked down through the relegation trapdoor this time.
“The high point, therefore, was the 1-0 win over Arsenal in Dyche’s first game in charge as it provided the spark of hope we needed as a club and fanbase to fight again to keep the club in the top flight.”
All-time Everton cult hero and why?
Lyndon: “We’ve had our share of legendary players but in terms of “cult hero”, it would have to be Duncan Ferguson. He was a Talisman during some dark days in the 1990s, helped us to our only top-four finish in the Premier League to date in 2004 and then took temporary charge as manager in 2019 during another difficult moment for the club, getting a famous win against Chelsea after Marco Silva had been sacked with the Blues sitting in the bottom three.
“I think there was a genuine debate if he was an Everton ‘legend’ based on his playing career but taking his entire time at the club including as coach and caretaker manager, he has probably earned that title now.”
Scoreline prediction?
Lyndon: “My heart says 1-1 but my head says United to win 2-1.”
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