Frank Lampard has opened up on the “strength and confidence” Goodison Park provides his Everton side as the Blues prepare to restart their Premier League campaign at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day (3pm GMT).  

Speaking on Friday afternoon at his pre-match press conference, the Everton manager also revealed the Club is “close” to agreeing new deals for key players Jordan Pickford, Alex Iwobi and Anthony Gordon.  

The Blues go into Monday’s contest 17th in the league standings and looking to bounce back from two successive Premier League defeats against Leicester City and Bournemouth before the break.   

Lampard believes Goodison Park can play a crucial role in kick-starting the second half of the campaign on a positive note, while admitting he expects his team to have a “freshness” about them following a positive interval for the World Cup.  

“It always has been and always will be,” said Lampard when discussing how important Goodison is to his Everton side.

“For sure, in my time here, we have had some incredible results at Goodison.  

"That’s been because of the playing performances and fans joining in, creating this atmosphere that Goodison has had throughout history, so it’s a big deal for us. It gives us strength and confidence.“

On the World Cup break, the boss said: “It has been a good one, I have personally enjoyed it and when I speak for myself, I hopefully speak for the players in terms of we went to Australia, we had a good trip, we won a couple of games and we saw our fanbase out there.   

“We then had a break from training which was really good for everyone, and then we have been working on things that we know we can improve on. Generally, and in particular on how we finished, the two games against Bournemouth,” he added.

“Before that, I think we were making good strides in a lot of ways, but people’s minds can get drawn to those two games. We have to think bigger than that and keep working.   

“There have been certain challenges in terms of scheduling and the workload being staggered for different players, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing.   

“Freshness of mind, sometimes, and having a break is a good thing. We forever talk about how busy our schedule is, and then something comes and breaks the schedule up and you can use it in a positive way.    

“I think we have done that, there have been challenges, but I hope to see a team run out that has a freshness about them, an energy and fitness as a basic point.”   

Lampard continued: “I don’t think we need a fresh start necessarily, a nice break adds some freshness in us, but we know what all the targets are, we know the games that are ahead of us and same as before the break, we want to win them.“  

Lampard also revealed the Club are close to finalising new deals for Pickford, Iwobi and Gordon. When asked about how the negotiations were progressing, the boss said things were getting “close” to a conclusion.  

“Hopefully we’re in the situation where we want the players to stay and they want to say here, that’s always been the feeling, we are very close.”  

Lampard also opened up on the prospect of Everton doing business in the January transfer window, admitting: “In the January window, we want to help the squad, we want to have more options in forward areas.

“If the right players become available in those areas, then we have to try to improve because we’ve had Dominic injured for a large part of the season and it’s an area where we want more.  

“We have to be smart, our situation is clear. Some other clubs are making moves in their own ways, we have to be smart in how we do it,” he added.   

“More than that, concentrate on what we have in the building, the players we already have. How much are they prepared to fight and play well every day, that’s my main concern.   

“But for sure, when the window opens, we will be looking to improve where we can.”