Everton manager Frank Lampard says ‘We don’t know’ points total required in relegation fight
Frank Lampard remains focused on what Everton can influence and insists he doesn’t know what points total is needed to survive in Premier League relegation scrap.
The Everton boss remains insistent that his side should focus on what they can control in their battle to beat the drop.
Everton are currently in the bottom three, albeit with a game in hand on the teams around them, however, Lampard believes focussing on points and games in hand is a distraction.
Talking to the Liverpool Echo, Lampard said: “The only thing I can say is that we can control certain things, that’s when we play.
“We can’t control Burnley so over the five games we have to control ourselves well enough to get enough points.
“We don’t know what that [total] is.”
Lampard added: “I don’t know what is ‘in your hands’ or not around the bottom of the table.
“Are we expecting Burnley to win every game?
“At the minute, maybe, yeah!
“Are we expecting Leeds to win every game? So I think it’s hard to say what’s in our hands or not.”
Does he have a point?
The Everton manager could have a point.
At present, the Toffees’ fate is in their hands, but how often does this change in a relegation fight.
After this weekend’s fixtures, Leeds United’s outcome could be back in their hands.
At all levels of football, games in hand and points tallies often blind what has actually happened on the pitch.
Everton’s fixture list has been scrutinised by many pundits, yet, the Toffees have since beaten Chelsea and Manchester United at Goodison Park.
There should be a realisation that Burnley, Everton and Leeds won’t win all of their remaining fixtures.
Therefore, whoever controls their own destiny will shift from week to week.
Everton should focus on what they can control at present, which is maintaining their good performances.
The Toffees travel to Leicester this weekend in what is a great opportunity to pick up three points.
The Foxes could be primarily focussed on their European commitments if they progress past Roma on Thursday evening.
Therefore, Brendan Rodgers could ring the changes in their Premier League clash.
In other Everton news, Lampard has given a fitness update on two key players ahead of the game against Leicester.
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