Frank Lampard has spoken of the need for him and his players to take responsibility this weekend as they bid to secure a big result and provoke a strong positive reaction from the Goodison Park crowd.   

The Blues welcome Southampton to L4 on Saturday afternoon (3pm GMT) with Nathan Jones’ side sitting bottom of the Premier League table after suffering defeat in each of their previous six league outings.   

However, they followed up last week’s 2-1 FA Cup win away to Crystal Palace with an impressive 2-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final victory at home to Manchester City on Wednesday night.   

Those results will have lifted confidence within the visitors’ camp. However, Lampard believes a committed performance from the Blues can help to inspire the home faithful to rally around his team as they aim to get back to winning ways.   

During Friday afternoon’s press conference held at Finch Farm, Lampard said: “Myself and the players, we have to be the first to not get distracted by anything. This is a big game for us in terms of the league position and points if we could win the game.   

“I believe fans are coming early to welcome us to the stadium. If they are that’s great because we saw what a great help that was [last season].   

“Will they back the players on the pitch if they see passion, if they see Everton players who want to give everything for the shirt, which has happened a lot of time during my time at Goodison?

“It’s not happened the last couple of games but that’s our responsibility. Will they be behind us if we do that? Yes.   

“From my point of view and that of the players, our only thing is to have personal responsibility for me doing my job, and the players doing their job. We have to think about ourselves and performing.  

“If the fans see that in the game, from Everton players and staff, then they’ll react positively.”   

Lampard elaborated further on the passion of Goodison Park and how that intensity can have an enhancing impact on his team’s performances.   

“I’d love it to be that [intimidating for the opposition]. We see the effect it has on the Club when it’s all joined up,” explained Lampard.   

“The fans are so passionate, I have played against it, it’s a really tough place to come, and we want to make it that.   

“I’m not trying to ask for anything from the fans, because I think that’s the wrong way to go about things, we have a job that we have to action for the fans to buy in.  

“We felt like they started it last year, in terms of turning up early and giving the players a feeling. The players then go onto the pitch and play with passion, which got some big results that helped keep us up.   

“So, of course, if we can have that again it would be great.”