Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s Premier League game against Liverpool (kick-off 12:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
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Dyche confirmed that there were a “couple of knocks” from Wednesday’s win over Wolves but “nothing serious”, while Michael Keane will be “touch and go” as he comes back from minor knee ligament injury.
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The Everton boss talked about the “bouncebackability” of the side after their 4-0 win over Wolves, but it is part of the “journey” and the “knock after knock after knock” they often have to deal with.
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On the importance of the win with a tough spell of fixtures coming up: “Certainly helpful because a lot of questions have been asked. But we encapsulated that in one performance and knowing their have been signs of that over the past recent run, better signs than the noise, you have to prove it and it is another step forward. We have a pattern of taking steps forward and then moving back, so we have got to keep correcting that and try to go forwards.”
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He felt Dominic Calvert-Lewin was unlucky not to get on scoresheet against Wolves, adding: “I have said before now you need to be prepared to get hurt to score goals and I think he did that throwing himself in there. I’m pretty sure Craig Dawson would be happy to give those [own goals] away. It was a good performance from Dom and he was getting in the right areas to score goals.”
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On keeping players hungry to score goals after the team’s recent drought: “We have spoken openly about the record of some of the players and past records. History leaves clues and it certainly left clues for our players last night, saying ‘look, you can score goals’. No magic to it other than being free.”
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They will “learn about” Armando Broja the more they see him after he made a “good cameo” on Wednesday: “There is a real desire in him, a chance for him to make a real mark in a big club like this and I think he is hungry for it.”
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On the final Premier League Merseyside derby at Goodison Park: “It brings our fans to the fore again… I don’t have the depth of knowledge for these games, it is for the people and the crowds – if we can win, it is for them and not me.”
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On Arne Slot’s impact at Liverpool: “A lot of what has impressed me is I don’t think he as made a massive amount of change. You don’t have to radically change everything. They are still operating in a high tempo, effective in different ways and in similar style.” He added: “It seems like a smooth transition for me.”
