Frank Lampard has called on Everton to perform with high intensity and attacking purpose against Crystal Palace on Saturday, as he emphasised the importance of his team engaging the “special” Goodison Park crowd.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Lampard also explained how the return of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin will enhance Everton’s goalscoring threat as the Blues prepare for an important period before the start of the World Cup in November.
Everton have four Premier League matches ahead of the break for the Qatar tournament, with the Palace game followed by clashes with Fulham, Leicester City and Bournemouth.
Lampard believes harnessing the energy of Evertonians’ passionate support will be key to kicking off that run with a positive result on Saturday.
He said: “We’ve clearly had a tough run of games on paper [against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United].
“It’s probably shown us the reality of where we are at, generally, and in-house the reality of things we can do a bit better.
“The coming games are a good opportunity for us to show that [we can improve].
“In the summer, the first thing we wanted to look at was the solid nature of the team. We have certainly improved that. The next phase is to continue with that and add goals. Hopefully the personnel we have and having Dominic back will help that.
“Our last home games, against West Ham and then in the second half against Manchester United, we were crossing and creating opportunities… In the West Ham match, we were playing deep into their half, which our crowd wants to see. We have to be a team that makes crosses and chances and stays in the opposition half.
“Tomorrow is a completely different animal [compared to the past three matches] against a very good team in Palace. But we’re back at Goodison and we have an opportunity to ask some of those questions.
“We can’t come away from the fact Goodison is special. When you think of the atmosphere we can create, when players come out and play with passion and the fans relate to that, it’s a big deal for us. We have to use that as one of our weapons.”
Calvert-Lewin made his first start of the season in Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United, playing 73 minutes of the St. James Park contest.
Lampard believes the 25-year-old’s return can have a significant impact.
“Dominic brings a lot to the team,” he said. “He is a high-level striker. He is an England striker and has been a regular scorer in the Premier League.
“You can see all his natural attributes, in terms of the types of goals he scores, his strengths, his speed, his aerial ability.
“You have to play to his strengths, without a doubt. Also, Dominic is a forward who can connect the game, hold the ball and drop between lines. There is a lot to his game. You want him as a focal point in the team.
“We also have Neal [Maupay] and Salomon [Rondon] in the equation, of course, and the option we can play two together or one off another.”
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Everton and Palace since the Blues’ dramatic 3-2 comeback win at the end of last season, which secured Premier League survival for Lampard’s side.
“That was one of the best nights of my life,” Lampard reflected.
“The magic of Goodison came through. We created a spectacular night. You saw what this club means.
“But we want to have special nights for different reasons, more positive ones. It’s our responsibility to work towards that.
“I’m more on the side of where we can keep building, in terms of why we were in that situation [fighting relegation] and how we can be more stable going forward.”
On the test Palace will provide this weekend, Lampard added: “They have a lot of threats in their team in attacking areas. They can make something out of nothing and they are very good in transition.
“Their players one-v-one can give you a lot of problems. We felt that in the game at the end of the season. We have to restrict their real threats in the top area of the pitch.”
