Chronicle EditorLIVERPOOL. — Everton manager Roberto Martinez will take his side on the short journey to Anfield in dire need of some Merseyside derby joy against Liverpool tonight.
The match kicks-off at 8:45pm.
Martinez may have guided the Toffees into an FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United this coming Saturday, as Everton seek a first major trophy in 21 years, but that hasn’t stilled a growing sense of frustration with the Spaniard’s regime among many supporters.
Last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Southampton meant Everton have won just 17 out of 51 points at Goodison Park this season and a current league position of 11th place seems a poor return on the talent within their squad.
But Martinez played down talk of growing pressure on his position with a reference to his native Spain.
“There are defining weeks for teams all the time in world football,” he said. “Barcelona have just had one when they were knocked out of the Champions League.
“Of course this week is defining but we embrace it and look forward.
“I always say football isn’t about managers. My job is to allow my players to enjoy their football, enjoy the opportunity ahead of them and be as good as they can be.
“Then we’ll see where it takes us. It’s defining for this season of course. Every team has a defining week.
“Ours is mid-April, others had it in February when they went out of the FA Cup. But we’re in the semi-final of the Cup and you’ll see the best side of our fans and we’ll be Everton with an incredible togetherness at Wembley.”
Everton rested top scorer Romelu Lukaku and England midfielder Ross Barkley against Southampton.
But the pair could return at Liverpool, along with James McCarthy following the mid-fielder’s one-game ban.
Seamus Coleman, however, is out with a hamstring injury which could also keep him out of the Cup semi-final. — AFP.
Online Reporter