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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Michael Ball

Everton midfielder must repay faith as Frank Lampard's squad enters unfamiliar territory

We've been in and competed in nearly every game this season

Unfortunately, we haven't seen that ruthlessness to get the points and that'll be the question Frank Lampard will be asking the players - where is the consistency? There's the level, we've got winnable games and we've competed with really strong teams this season and felt frustrated we haven't had more points.

Now we've showed that quality and effort against Crystal Palace, we've got to go on now for the next few games to bring the points home - that's what Frank wants, the fans want, when you look at that league table, we feel we should be higher with the performances we've shown.

MICHAEL BALL - PART ONE: Everton fan demands answered after Frank Lampard has selfless decision vindicated

READ MORE: Frank Lampard has already explained why Dominic Calvert-Lewin must be more than Everton's Filippo Inzaghi

That ruthlessness we shown against Crystal Palace, can we keep it going? We've got Fulham away next, against an Everton manager who will want to do as well as he can. But we've got to make it difficult for them.

We've been difficult to break down away, which Frank has done fantastically well at this season. It was so easy last season, we were so soft. The question mark over Lampard is, we've been solid at the back but are we asking enough of the opposition going forward?

We showed that balance against Crystal Palace. We were strong, difficult to beat and the full-backs were winning battles. Then going forward we had ability and composure on the ball.

Going away from home, mentality shouldn't really change. We need to be difficult to beat and when we counter-attack we have to show that bravery. We need to start putting points on the board before the World Cup break.

Calvert-Lewin must start and Onana's time to shine

During the Newcastle game I was frustrated because we showed glimpses and we let ourselves down by sloppy passing here and there. You look at the starting 11 from Newcastle and Palace, it is our strongest 11, our strongest team possible.

I can't remember the last time we had that, as we've had so many injuries under Frank, often the core of the team out.

Other teams in the Premier League are moaning about one or two players injured, we've had six or seven, it's difficult to have that level and I think we've found ourselves in a poor situation last season because of it - but that's part and parcel of football - Frank will be made up now.

He's got his key players all fit, now can he find the formation to get the best out of everybody? I feel what he did against Palace really worked.

Amadou Onana - he's loving the football club, he's loving life.

He's shown his ability but what I love is his work ethic, he likes to get his foot in but he's got that quality. Frank's the perfect manager to get the best out of players like Onana but he'll be wanting more out of him now saying 'look, I'm going to find a solution, a formation for you, you're going to be the key component'.

That's what Frank will be questioning with Onana now - there's the formation, no excuses, we've got all our key players fit, now go and express yourself, show everybody why we brought you to the football club. I think, fingers crossed, Frank has found the formation to get the best out of him.

Frank's been patient with Dominic but there comes a time to go 'okay, you're back'.

Going into the game, you look at Seamus Coleman, come up against Palace's best player, physical, demanding, it was Seamus' third game. So if Seamus can do it, Calvert-Lewin can do it. Frank has been patient and managed him correctly, in my opinion, now it's time to get 90 minutes or be a key component and if you're winning two or three-nil, you can take him off and that luxury of doing that.

Going forward, I think Calvert-Lewin is back. Strikers scoring goals are confident, strikers scoring goals have that belief and it makes the difference compared to what we've had this season. Hopefully, Dom will have confidence to say I''m back, I'm fit, I can compete, I am at the level needed' and not questioning his body. He 100 per cent should be starting until the break.

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