Troy Deeney makes Everton ‘freedom’ admission ahead of Merseyside derby
Sean Dyche will encourage his Everton side to play with more freedom against Liverpool after Wednesday’s thrashing of Wolves, according to Troy Deeney.
The 4-0 win [4 December] sets the Toffees up nicely for what is set to be the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime [7 December].
Speaking live on talkSPORT [6 December, 12:45], Deeney – who played under Dyche at Watford – says set-pieces could be the key to a potential second successive Goodison derby win on an emotional day.
“Everton have just come off a really good win in the week, so it should give them a freedom to try and take Liverpool on,” he reasoned.
“We know with Dyche what that means – try and win a lot more set-pieces but still be contained, don’t let Liverpool have too much space.
“It’s a good, exciting game for both teams. Everton fans who have been going to this derby for 40, 50, 60 years at Goodison… I don’t think it’ll hit home for them that it’s the last one until they’re inside the stadium.”
Everton prepare for final Goodison derby
Deeney’s comments on the ardent supporters who have seen every derby for decades in the Gwladys Street and other areas of Goodison will resonate with many at Everton.
Unless the unlikely occasion is thrown up of a cup tie this season between the neighbours, Saturday’s will be the final forever on the hallowed turf.
Dyche and his team will take belief from the midweek success; if this game was directly after Sunday’s hammering by Manchester United [1 December], the attitude around the place would likely have been starkly different.
Liverpool, by contrast, have been absolutely flying and there will be key duels around the pitch that look palatable to Arne Slot’s men. They did, however, drop points in midweek, as Newcastle United dug out a 3-3 draw.
Any return from this block of games for Dyche is crucial. After the derby comes fixtures against each of the other occupants of the Champions League places. It will be a supreme test of Everton’s resolve heading into the January transfer window.
In other Everton news, Alex Crook predicts how long Dyche has left in charge of the side.
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