By Jonty Banks

3rd Dec, 2022 | 8:10am

Frank Lampard keen to make significant change to style of play at Everton

Everton manager Frank Lampard desperately wants his side to play more progressive football when they return to Premier League action later this month, according to journalist Joe Thomas.

The Toffees have struggled for goals this season, netting just 11 times in 15 games this season and also boasting the fifth-lowest average percentage of possession in the league.

Lampard will look to hit the ground running after the World Cup break, with his side languishing just one point above the relegation zone, but faces a tricky festive fixture list including Wolves, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Due to the lack of progress in the early parts of the season, the Merseyside club could be set to alter their defensively-based style of play in order to combat their upcoming challenges in the league.

Speaking on the Royal Blue podcast, Liverpool Echo journalist Thomas said: “I think there are just a few growing pains and teething problems and Frank Lampard is very keen to change the style of Everton into a far more progressive style, Amadou Onana will be crucial to that but I think they are just learning at the minute.

“They have no choice but to figure it out on the job with him and I think there’s an acceptance that they’re still in that learning curve.”

Something needs changing

Although Lampard enjoyed a fruitful couple of matches in the Sydney Super Cup, it is back to business in the Premier League very soon, and something needs to change fast.

For much of their opening 15 games of the season, The Toffees looked solid and defensively sound but lacked any kind of attacking threat in the final third.

And although you could argue that Dominic Calvert Lewin’s torrid run of injuries has not helped, the style of play could be one way to significantly alter Everton’s season.

A move to a more progressive football sounds lovely to fans, but do the team have the players to perform it to the needed standard?

Onana is capable, and possibly Anthony Gordon can help instil a more attacking playing style, but apart from that, Everton really don’t have the required quality to make any drastic changes.

With tough games awaiting them during the festive period, Lampard should keep it solid at the back until the January transfer window and then look sign players who can fit the mould of his long-term vision at the club.