KOEMAN’S BANKING ON HOME COMFORTS
EVERTON BOSS LOOKS TO PUT POOR RUN BEHIND THEM WHEN CATS LAND ON MERSEYSIDE
Everton boss Ronald Koeman is hoping home comforts can help transform the Toffees’ season ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup clash against Sunderland.
Both sides head into the third round fixture at Goodison Park out of form, with Sunderland without a win since beating Carlisle United on August 22.
For Koeman’s Everton, of which so much was expected after they spent big this summer including £30million on Jordan Pickford, their recent record is equally as poor.
Everton have lost their last four games and haven’t scored since August 24, a 1-1 draw away to Hajduk Split, their latest defeat a 4-0 hammering at Manchester United.
Under pressure Koeman hopes tonight’s game can spark an upturn in fortunes.
He said: “You can support but it is up to [the players] to make the right decisions and not be afraid.
“After going behind 1-0 [at Manchester United] we showed a different phase and that is the phase I like to see.
“We need to analyse the game but it is important to take the positives from Sunday and prepare ourselves for tonight.
“We now play four times in a row at home in different competitions, we need a feeling for a win and that will give the best confidence to the players.”
Club record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson insists Everton are “more than good enough” to turn around their form adding: “I think with the staff and the players we have, and the will within the team and the players, eventually we will turn this around.”