WATCH: Under-18s Boss Tait Previews Mini-Derby

Paul Tait says “staying calm and focussed” will be key for his in-form Everton Under-18s team as the young Blues target Merseyside derby success on Saturday.

Everton take on Liverpool at USM Finch Farm (11am) aiming to achieve a fourth straight victory.

The Toffees sit fourth in the Under-18 Premier League (North), just one point behind their second-placed city rivals and with a game in hand.

Manager Tait admits there has been an extra edge in training ahead of the derby match. He insists his team must retain composure and allow their collective quality to tell when the contest gets under way.

“It’s a really big game and the boys are really excited about it,” Tait told evertontv.

“We’ve got a lot of local boys in the team. They’ll know a lot of the Liverpool lads, so that adds some extra spice.

“My job is probably keeping a lid on it. It’s about the players staying calm – not getting too carried away or losing their heads.

“It’s important they keep doing the good things they’ve been doing. We won a game last week [a 1-0 Premier League Cup victory over Sunderland] and we have been focussing on points where we can get better.

“It’s about continuing that process and trying to get better as a team.

“But we’ve had a very good start, the boys are in good spirits, and we’re in good shape ahead of this match.”

Everton have been in exceptional goalscoring form this season and have struck a total of 22 times in their opening five league matches.

Liverpool have also been impressive in front of goal, Barry Lewtas’ team registering 20 goals from their first six matches of 2019/20.


Toffees manager Tait, then, is expecting an entertaining clash between the sides at USM Finch Farm.

He detailed how the environment at the Everton Academy encourages attacking talent to flourish.

“We’ll be very surprised if we don’t see some goals on Saturday,” Tait said.

“Liverpool are pretty free-scoring, the same as ourselves so far.

“We try to provide an environment every day where the players are not afraid to practise and be creative.

“Hopefully that then comes out on a matchday.

“It has happened in the last couple of seasons, it’s happening this season again.

“That’s all part of the philosophy of the training sessions within the Academy. But it’s also down to the individual players, too.

“Great credit has to go to the boys who create and assist, and the boys who score the goals.”