What The Papers Say - 09 February

The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton.

MAROUANE FELLAINI was still on crutches today as Everton waited for confirmation of the extent of the midfielder’s ankle injury.

David Moyes revealed on Saturday that his record signing had not sustained any fracture in the challenge which saw Sotirios Kyrgiakos sent off in the Anfield derby on Saturday afternoon.

But the Blues will not know the extent of any further damage until the swelling has gone down.

Fellaini will definitely miss tomorrow night’s visit of Chelsea and could be sidelined for several weeks if he has sustained any ligament damage.

If the Belgian is ruled out for any significant period of time it would represent a major blow, as he was enjoying the best form of his Everton career so far.

Everton have already suffered major injury blows in the past 12 months with successive players of the year Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta both suffering cruciate knee ligament injuries.

PHIL NEVILLE has delivered a rallying call to his Everton team-mates ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with Chelsea at Goodison Park.

The Blues returned to training at Finch Farm yesterday with the skipper admitting Saturday’s 1-0 derby defeat at Anfield still hurts.

It ended their nine-match unbeaten league run stretching back to November, but Neville believes David Moyes’ side are ready to take out their frustration on the Premier League leaders.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side will arrive on a high following their 2-0 victory over Arsenal on Sunday, but Neville insists the Blues have nothing to fear after the thrilling 3-3 draw when the clubs last met at Stamford Bridge in December.

“We need to lick our wounds, get back to the training ground and look forward to Wednesday night,” Neville said.

“Games are coming thick and fast at the moment and we can’t be feeling sorry for ourselves.

“You’ve got to pick yourself up and get on with it. We’ve got to raise ourselves for another massive game at Goodison."

THE Bucks and the Blues revived a 117-year old rivalry last night . . . but even though more than a century has passed since these two derby day foes clashed, the outcome remained the same.

It was April, 25 1893 when Everton beat fierce city rivals Bootle 2-1 in the Liverpool Senior Cup final, the last recorded occasion these sides clashed.

The hairstyles, the footwear and the venue might have changed since then, but not the eventual winners.

Everton triumphed 4-2 in a quarter-final tie of exactly the same competition to reach the last four of the historic old tournament.

The Toffees took the lead through a Karl Sheppard penalty.

But the home side hit back and equalised through Daniel O’Connor.

Chris Tyson then put the non-leaguers ahead and dreaming of revenge.

But just before half-time Everton centre-back James McCarten headed home the equaliser to set up the second half.

After half-time Everton were in the ascendancy.

Luke Dobie restored the Blues’ lead with a deflected effort.

Then striker Lewis Codling rounded off the win with Everton’s fourth goal.