We’ll make history and end hoodoo at Anfield
EVERTONIANS, according to the words of the Goodison Park song It’s a Grand Old Team, know their history. And in the Merseyside derby it makes painful reading.
No wins in 17 games going back to October 2010 and no victories at Anfield since September 1999, when Kevin Campbell scored the winner.
Lucas Digne says it is time Everton ended that dire run tomorrow. “We know the story about Everton and the derby,” said the France defender.
“The stats can change. Maybe you lose for one, two or three years and then in the fourth you win and that stat is finished. Football’s like this and we need to change the past. We need to create a new era. We can change things and have the mentality to win.”
His positivity is refreshing and Everton signed him from Barcelona because he is a winner.
Digne, 25, has more silverware than the Antiques Roadshow, the former Paris Saint-Germain star boasting two Ligue 1 winner’s medals, one
French Cup, one La Liga and two Copas del Rey.
Everton believe he can give them a winning mentality, and he and their other big-name summer signings do not carry the mental baggage of losing. He relishes big occasions and won two Rome derbies with Roma during his loan spell there three seasons ago. “The biggest derby I have played in is Roma-Lazio,” says Digne, who has earned a recall to the French squad after missing their World Cup win. “It’s a hot derby. I remember 15,000 fans came to our hotel and it was crazy with all the flares. “Now I hope to play in the biggest one this weekend. Liverpool are playing well but we have played well since the beginning of the season. If we go with a good mentality, we can beat anybody.”
Digne, who has replaced stalwart Leighton Baines at left-back to become a key man, played alongside Mo Salah at Roma and is relaxed about facing him.
“I know Salah because I played with him in Rome,” said Digne. “He’s a very good guy and a very good player.
“I’m a defender but it’s down to the team to stop him. It’s not down to one player or two players.”