Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has given his thoughts on Everton’s relegation battle and claims he wants the club to survive.
After their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield yesterday, Everton are two points from safety with just six games left to play. Burnley have picked up seven points in three games since sacking Sean Dyche two weeks ago and the picture has flipped from when Everton were four points clear of the relegation zone.
Speaking in the Sky Sports studio after yesterday’s game, Souness said: “I want Everton to survive because they’re a big and proud football club. They have fantastic history and I lived in the city for a long time. They are a genuinely proper football club with proper supporters.”
However, the Scotsman was critical of how the Blues played yesterday as they had just 18% of possession and registered only one shot on target. He said: “It’s going to be difficult for them [to survive] because they can’t play like that for the rest of the six games. You have to attempt to try and play a little more than today. I accept this is the hardest place to come and get a result in English football. It’s a hard sell to ask your players to sit on the edge of the box to try and knick games.”
One player who did stand out for Everton was Anthony Gordon. He was perhaps unlucky not to win a penalty after a challenge from Joel Matip in the 54th minute when the score was 0-0. Gordon was a constant menace down Everton’s left-hand side and created problems for Trent Alexander-Arnold throughout the contest. Souness was positive in his assessment of the youngster and said: “He’s got a real chance. He’s quick and a great asset to have. He’s a scouser so he’ll be up to fight when people are kicking him.
“He’s got trickery and he’s direct - we’ll see how he goes. It’s difficult for a boy like that in terms of that sort of player coming into the team and being effective. We’ve seen him today because he’s quick and he was getting into a race with people. He has a chance.”
Souness was also clear in his thoughts on why Everton are in their current predicament. He said: “Recruitment. Moshiri comes in, has money to spend and they’ve not bought very well. Since Moshiri’s got involved at Everton he seems to have got them all wrong. We would not be having this conversation if they signed players up to the mark for Everton. It's as simple as that. You can have the worst coach in the world but have top players and have every chance of winning a trophy.”
