Everton manager Frank Lampard has bemoaned the fixture schedule facing his side this week as two of Leeds United’s relegation rivals go head-to-head on Wednesday. The Toffees make the short trip to Turf Moor to face 19 th place Burnley in what is one of three games in hand on Leeds for both sides.
Everton then face Manchester United in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off, meaning Lampard’s men have been tasked with playing three games in six days. Their six-pointer at Burnley follows yet another defeat on the road as they were beaten 2-1 by West Ham United to plunge them further into relegation trouble.
And Lampard has hit out at the Premier League’s scheduling of their matches in his pre-match press conference, while also providing news of yet another injury blow – with Nathan Patterson set for minor surgery on his ankle.
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He said: "I don't know how, but we have managed to be asked to play three games from Sunday to Wednesday evening to Saturday morning. It's an incredible schedule really when it could have easily been Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday but not a 12.30 kick-off. We have got the short straw this week so I have to take that into consideration in terms of fitness and freshness of the players as well.
"Suspension we know, we have obviously got Michael Keane and Allan are still out. In terms of injuries, Nathan Patterson will be out for a certain period of time. He's been down to see a specialist on his ankle and we are looking at having a small operation later this week so he will be out.
"Fabian Delph is back in the squad which is good news for us, he has been working hard to get back in there. Yerry Mina isn't fit yet, Andros Townsend is long term. Who am I missing? Seamus [Coleman] is actually better now having been unwell but whether he can start or not will be one to keep an eye on over the next 24 hours."
