Everton will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host Manchester United at the weekend.
Paul Merson has claimed that Everton’s recent defeat at already-relegated Fulham signifies that there is an ‘attitude’ problem amongst the players.
The Sky Sports pundit also claimed that he wouldn’t blame manager Marco Silva for that defeat at Craven Cottage, but he did admit that there is ‘a lot of’ pressure on him to finish seventh.
Speaking to the Debate on Sky Sports PL (17/04/2019 at 10:45 pm), Merson made his feelings clear about the Toffees players.
“You’d be pulling your hair out if you were a manager [in regards to Everton’s results],” Merson told the Debate. “I haven’t seen enough of the game [against Fulhan], but the only thing I could say there is that it has to be the attitude. The players must have just thought ‘we are just going to turn up’.
“They absolutely slaughtered West Ham. They were far better than Arsenal and then to go to Fulham, who were letting in at least two goals a game, I’d be questioning the players. I can’t have a go at the manager there… I think there is a lot more pressure on Silva [to finish seventh].”
Prior to that deserved defeat against Fulham, Silva’s side were in a rich vein of form because they had recorded a number of big wins, including beating Chelsea and Arsenal.
On Sunday, Everton will host Champions League chasing Manchester United, who were knocked out of Europe on Tuesday night.
At this moment in time, Silva’s ninth-placed side are one point behind seventh-spot which is currently occupied by Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City.
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