Frank Lampard was queried for his views on the dynamics pertaining to the relegation battle after Everton slipped into the bottom three below Burnley before their subsequent loss to Liverpool and the gaffer has been insistent that Everton cannot affor in any way to get “caught up” in the results of relegation rivals.
The Blues kicked off the Merseyside derby match on Sunday in the bottom three after Burnley had managed to edge out a win over Wolves earlier in the afternoon. Lampard said he expected the Clarets to get a positive result and did not believe it changed anything in terms of his approach – before the defeat to Liverpool or in the coming weeks.
The Everton manager maintained his side must instead “absolutely focus on ourselves” as they look ahead to the six games that will decide their Premier League fate.
The Blues are playing catch up on the teams above them for the first time in this season’s survival fight after Burnley leapfrogged them with that 1-0 victory over Wolves. Defeat at Anfield left Everton two points from safety, albeit with a game in hand.
Speaking after the match, Lampard was asked whether being in the bottom three changed the dynamics of the relegation battle. He said: “It doesn’t change anything for me, I expected they would get a result today. We’ve got six games to their five. We will try and win as many points as we can.
“That’s us and Burnley, you bring maybe Leeds into the equation because of the position they are in now, they play Monday. We can’t get caught up in the game of what everyone else is doing. We have to absolutely focus on ourselves now for these six games.”
Leeds United travel to Crystal Palace tonight. They are currently four points above Everton having played the same amount of matches.