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Everton Boss' Demand For Foxes Test

Frank Lampard says Everton must perform with the “energy and intensity” which characterised their dominant 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace a fortnight ago when Leicester City visit Goodison Park on Saturday.

Everton followed up that Palace display with a gritty 0-0 draw at in-form Fulham, with Lampard admitting his team did not hit the attacking heights they are capable of at Craven Cottage.

The Blues boss, however, was satisfied with recording a second successive clean sheet – he hailed his players collective “desire to defend” – and is now targeting a more complete performance against the Foxes.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference at Finch Farm, Lampard said: “We want to play like we did against Palace.

“We want to play with an energy and intensity in our game and with an idea.

"We just have to keep believing and understand we have to work for that.

“We have three big games coming up now before the break. It would be great to finish this block well, going into the World Cup.

“Consistency is what separates the top boys – the ones who win titles – from the rest in the league.

“We have to strive to control what we can, how we train, how we prepare, and hope the result of that is starting to win back-to-back games and getting consistency on that front.”

Frank Lampard
We have three big games coming up now before the break. We have to keep believing.


Only three teams have conceded fewer goals than Everton in the Premier League this season, with the Blues’ determined defensive line backed up by an exceptional goalkeeper in Jordan Pickford.

Pickford made a series of outstanding saves in last week’s Fulham stalemate and Lampard was effusive in his praise for the England No.1.

“Jordan is in the top bracket of goalkeepers in the world, in my opinion,” he said.

“He's a great professional, so it's just a case of him doing his job really well.

“At the minute, we have good individuals doing a good job and there is a structure to our team.

“I think defensively from set pieces, we've been very sound, so we need to continue with that. We can also score more from set pieces.”


Everton will face a Leicester side on Saturday evening who have steadily recovered after a challenging start to the season.

Prior to last weekend’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Premier League champions Manchester City, Brendan Rodgers’ side had taken seven points from their previous three top-flight games.

“We’ve seen in recent weeks the team they are,” Lampard said.

“They had a tough patch earlier in the season, and how they’ve turned the corner with performances and results shows their resilience.

“It was never in doubt for me, because they’re a team that have been together for a few years and have a very good manager.”

Lampard was also asked about the impressive progress being made at the site of the new Everton Stadium.

“I'm really excited about it,” he said.

“It's a huge thing for the football club, moving in a forward direction to a massive new stadium.

“It's an exciting factor to myself, to the players and the fans.”