Paul Merson urges Frank Lampard to set Everton up to ‘make sure they don’t lose’ against West Ham United this Sunday ahead of a ‘massive’ week, via his column for Sportskeeda.
The Toffees travel to the London Stadium this weekend chasing successive Premier League wins for the first time since September. But a 4-0 defeat against Crystal Palace knocked the Blues out of the FA Cup before the international. A result Merson feels will worry Lampard.
Everton last won back-to-back top-flight fixtures amid their strong start under Rafa Benitez to start the Spaniard’s tenure. The Goodison Park outfit won three of their first four games and lost one in seven. Enough for the Merseysiders to sit fifth, and just two points off first.
Yet results nosedived after a draw at Manchester United, with one win in 12 – no side took fewer points (5). It cost Benitez his job and Lampard has so far only won two from seven at the helm. The Toffees now sit 17th in the table and three points from the relegation zone.
Paul Merson urges Frank Lampard to set Everton up to ‘make sure they don’t lose’
Everton still have two games in hand over 18th-place Watford and three on Leeds, who sit 16th by four points. Those matches could prove vital to Lampard sealing the Blues another top-flight season. But first they face a West Ham side eying the Champions League places.
After that, Everton travel to relegation rivals 19th-place Burnley, who are only three points behind and on even games played. So, Merson urges Lampard to set Everton up to at least not lose at West Ham. But the Arsenal hero fears the Toffees boss will try to be aggressive.
“With games against West Ham and Burnley in the pipeline, Everton have a massive week of football coming up,” Merson wrote. “They have to make sure they don’t lose games, but I don’t know if Frank Lampard will set his team up like that.
“Against Crystal Palace, they started the game really well but ended up losing 4-0, which has got to be worrying for the manager.”
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