Chris Beesley: Sean Dyche can ‘finally’ give Everton the ‘backbone’ to face Liverpool
Sean Dyche can give Everton the needed “backbone” to become stronger opponents in the Merseyside derby, according to Chris Beesley.
The Liverpool Echo journalist wrote (17 October) that Liverpool had become untamable for the Toffees in recent fixtures, but Goodison Park’s latest manager has the ability to instil the minerals into his players to get them ready for the challenge.
Everton face the Reds in their first post-international break clash on Saturday (21 August) in hopes of claiming just their third derby victory in 13 years.
Beesley wrote: “Jurgen Klopp’s ‘Mentality Monsters’ have proven to be beasts the Blues cannot tame – certainly in front of fans – but Dyche and his staff are capable of instilling more backbone.
“They’ll certainly be expected to make more of a fist of it this weekend than they did when last visiting Anfield eight months ago.
“Despite being something of a boyhood Kopite himself from afar, Dyche is a gaffer whom Evertonians will be willing to finally reintroduce some fight and application from their players in the fixture that means the most to them.”
Mentality shift
With a horrific record against Klopp’s side, few Everton fans would expect an Anfield win to welcome them back to Premier League football.
Carlo Ancelotti was the last man to bring three points back from a Liverpool encounter back in February 2021, where Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson bookended the COVID-era away clash in a 2-0 win.
However, Everton looks a long way from being as good as the Reds unfortunately, but if Beesley’s observation is to be believed, perhaps the Toffees are now best equipped for another famous victory.
Dyche has faced Liverpool just once in his short spell at Goodison Park but per Transfermarkt, he has lost 11 of his 15 encounters against the Reds, with two wins and two draws to boast.
While not great reading for hopeful Everton fans, few have a good record against Klopp’s outfit. Everton have had something of a “backbone” in recent clashes, especially their hard-fought win against Aston Villa in the League Cup, but they will have to be on a new level to conquer the “beasts”.
In other Everton news, Dyche must stick to his guns despite a recent fitness boost at Goodison Park.