Out of the Carling Cup, out of form and out of favour
with their supporters, Everton’s players would be forgiven for
approaching their Merseyside derby match against Liverpool tomorrow
with a sense of dread, but Louis Saha, their new centre forward,
believes that the lunchtime kick-off at Goodison Park represents
the perfect opportunity for them to get their season up and running
after a faltering start.
Everton are in the top half of the Barclays Premier League after
taking seven points from their first five matches, but an abject
Carling Cup third-round defeat away to Blackburn Rovers on
Wednesday fuelled a growing feeling of discontent among many of
their supporters. The players were subjected to an angry reaction
after the 1-0 defeat at Ewood Park, but with a home match against
Liverpool tomorrow and the away leg of a difficult Uefa Cup
first-round tie against Standard Liège to follow on Thursday, Saha,
the former Manchester United forward, expects Everton to put things
right over the coming days.
“The only positive we can take from the game at Blackburn is a
reaction to put it right,” Saha said. “We are determined to do
that, as we know we did not play well against Blackburn. I know we
are a hard-working team and when we are faced with games like this,
against Liverpool, we usually take the opportunity to show
that.”
David Moyes, the Everton manager, left his players in no doubt
what he thought about their performance at Ewood Park, saying that
the supporters were entitled to react as they did. He has demanded
a strong reaction against Liverpool, with Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill
and Yakubu Ayegbeni likely to be restored to the starting line-up.
Marouane Fellaini, the club’s new £15 million midfield player,
struggled at Ewood Park before being substituted at half-time, but
he is expected to keep his place.
