Michael Ball tips Everton for ‘confidence booster’ in Merseyside derby
Michael Ball has tipped Everton for a “confidence booster” at Anfield as they prepare to face Liverpool on Sunday [April 24].
Frank Lampard’s side welcomes Leicester City to Goodison Park tomorrow night [April 20] before their trip across Stanley Park on the weekend.
Ball insisted that the Blues have nothing to lose and a positive result against the Reds can change their season.
“Then there is the trip to Anfield,” Ball wrote in his Liverpool Echo column.
“The good thing about having a derby is, and I have been a player going into one of these games as part of a team that is struggling for form, is that form can go out of the window.
“Liverpool seem to be the best team in the Premier League right now. They have a lot of confidence. But a derby can reset things. Sometimes you can go to Anfield, or play at Goodison Park, and get a result that can change the rest of your season. It can be a confidence booster.
“It is an opportunity to play against a top side and Everton’s players must not be afraid. They need to thrive on the passion of the supporters and the pressure of the rivalry to deliver. Everton have nothing to lose on Sunday, we can go out there and express ourselves and hopefully get a good result.”
Bitter rivals
Form does go out of the window which is brilliant because Everton’s away form is nothing shy of embarrassing.
The Toffees haven’t picked up a point away from home since December when the youngsters drew with Chelsea 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.
There couldn’t be a better time to end that disgraceful run than on the weekend.
These players have the confidence of winning at Anfield last season so they might just believe they can cause an upset.
Not only would a point do wonders in the Blues’ bid for Premier League survival but it would end Liverpool’s title hopes which would be hilarious.
That would be the perfect lift after such a shocking season – stopping the Reds from winning the title in their own backyard.
First, though, Lampard’s side faces the Foxes at home where they simply have to put six points between them and the drop zone.
In other Everton news, the Blues are to axe several senior players in summer for “hungrier” alternatives according to Chris Beesley.
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