Frank Lampard highlights Everton’s next challenge as ‘absolutely pivotal’ for the club’s future
Everton manager Frank Lampard believes the Toffees’ Thursday evening [19 May] fixture with Crystal Palace is crucial for the club’s future.
The Toffees could secure their Premier League fate with a win over Patrick Viera’s Palace side at Goodison Park.
Failure to win will take Everton’s survival bid to the final day of the season against Arsenal at the Emirates.
Lampard believes it is “pivotal” that Everton get the result they need to secure the future of the club.
As quoted by the Liverpool Echo, Lampard said: “I certainly wasn’t over-playing the idea of a relegation battle as if that is something to get excited about.
“It is just the situation we are in is absolutely pivotal, of course, to the future of the club in the short-term to get the results we need to stay in the league.”
Pivotal night
Lampard will be desperate to avoid the relegation battle heading to the final day.
Anything can happen on the final day and the Toffees won’t want to be looking over their shoulders on their trip to the capital.
In their tussle with Palace, Everton will need to be extremely disciplined if they wish to nullify the Eagles’ main threats.
The Eagles have plenty of players who are effective on the counterattack and have proved themselves to be a tough side to break down this season.
The Toffees cannot be caught on the break as they were against Brentford on Sunday [15 May].
This must be a measured and professional display from Lampard’s side.
They cannot let the occasion at Goodison Park get to them, as it potentially has in previous home fixtures.
If the Toffees can start the fixture as they did against Brentford then they will have a good chance of picking up the result they need.
Before their ill-discipline set in against the Bees, the Toffees looked in control and well-set to pick up all three points.
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