Ahead of this evening’s clash with Brentford, Abdoulaye Doucoure sits down to discuss the midweek Merseyside derby victory, how the team bounced back from defeat at Chelsea, and the need for the Blues to carry positive momentum into their encounter with the Bees. 

Q: Abdoulaye, it was a huge win against Liverpool on Wednesday. Has the magnitude of that result settled in yet?

AD: Yes, I think so. Wednesday night was a great night for us, for the fans, and for the Football Club. It was amazing. I think we played so well, and we deserved the win.

I played when we won a Merseyside derby four years ago, but that was during Covid, so Wednesday felt very special - in front of the fans and under the lights at Goodison. There’s nothing better than that.

Q: With the win being against Liverpool, it must be particularly sweet to secure the victory against your local rivals?

AD: It was massive. We needed a big three points. Knowing the situation we are in, it gives us a bit of breathing space in the relegation battle. Of course, it’s very important to have this game won, and we move to the next one now.

Liverpool came to us to win the game to stay in the title race. Obviously, Wednesday was a big blow for them, but a great win for us, so I’m very happy for the fans.

Q: Brentford visit Goodison Park in another big match on Saturday. What’s your assessment of the task at hand, and what’s the feeling among the squad like after the back-to-back wins?

AD: Every game is so important for us - especially to play at Goodison in front of our fans. We want to win again. That’s the best feeling in football, and that’s why after the Liverpool game, the manager told us not to get carried away.

We still need to be consistent, keep fighting, and we want another win at home. It would be massive to get another win – especially after the points deduction. It shows we’re ready to fight, even if things happen out of our control. 

We could be safe after Saturday, so it’s a big game for us. That would be massive for the Club, the fans, and us as players, so we need to make sure we’re ready for it.

I think we’ll be safe, anyway - I’ve never had any doubt about that.

Q: Saturday’s game will be your third inside of a week at Goodison Park. After wins against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, how important is it to have those games at home and what sort of impact does that have?

AD: Seeing the schedule, we knew playing at home would be a massive advantage for us, and I think we’ve maximised that as much as we can so far with three wins at home since the Burnley game.

The games schedule has been very intense. The Premier League is the best in the world because of the intensity, so we need to recover quickly.

I’m not young anymore, so I need more time to recover! But we like to play at a fast pace, and now, we just want to kick on and have this feeling again.

After some wins, the mentality feels much stronger and we’re ready to go again.

This weekend could be massive for the Club. We could secure our top-flight status in the Premier League, and we need to do that.

Q: The team appear to have recovered well and bounced back from the defeat at Chelsea. What was the mindset in the team after that setback?

AD: Obviously, it was a big hit and it hurt a lot for us and for the fans. No one expected us to come back that quickly and that well, and we managed it.

The fans deserved that. The minimum for us was to fight and the fans definitely deserved that win against Liverpool.

Q: And personally, how do you reflect on the season? With six league goals, you must be pleased with your contribution in the Everton attack.

AD: I’ve started every game I’ve been available, so that means the manager trusts me, and my teammates trust me, as well. It’s a big mark for me to be playing every game that I can, and I’ve tried to perform as best as I could.

I was very happy to score some goals. When Dominic (Calvert-Lewin) had a spell without scoring, I was there to help the team, but now, he’s come back on his best form, so I’m very happy for him.

He works so hard, and goals always make you more confident. As a striker, he just needed a couple of goals. Now, we can see he’s flying and we hope he can continue to be an important player for us in the last few games.

Q: Jarrad Branthwaite has gained a lot of attention for his performances in this, his breakthrough season in the Premier League. What have you made of his development so far?

AD: He’s been tremendous, to be honest - one of the best players in the team. He’s a very hard-working guy and I think he’ll become even better.

Q: And on to the manager, Sean Dyche. It’s his first full season at the Club. As a player, what’s he like to work under?

AD: He’s definitely helped us. Since he signed here, he’s changed the mood in the Club. Like I’ve always said, for me, I think he’s the perfect fit for Everton Football Club - the way he works and the ways he sees things.

His experience helps us a lot and he's not scared to change things sometimes, and that’s a good thing. We all listen to him and want to fight for him.