Here are the latest Everton evening headlines for Thursday, October 15.
Leon Osman gives positive outlook on Merseyside derby in spite of recent record
Leon Osman says Everton ought to be optimistic ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby, which will mark exactly a decade since Everton last beat Liverpool.
The former midfielder, who made over 400 appearances for his boyhood Toffees between 2002 and 2016, featured in David Moyes’ starting XI that day as Everton won 2-0 at Goodison Park.
But he believes that Everton, on a run of seven straight wins in all competitions, are in the right shape to finally put an end to the ten-year hoodoo against their city rivals.
"There have been derbies down the years where we've felt we've got a good chance, where you're a bit more optimistic about them than others, but we couldn't have started this season any better," Osman said.
"We've won four league games and three cup games on the run, and we've brought in quality players who affect games at both ends of the pitch. We've signed players with real magic so it's time to be optimistic.
"Liverpool showed last week that they're fallible having been beaten 7-2 away from home against Aston Villa so why not think we can win?
"Beating them would be massive for the belief it would bring to everyone connected to the club. For the likes of Allan and James Rodriguez, maybe it won't make too much difference to them.”
Here’s what he said in full , including his memories from beating Liverpool back in 2010.
Everton’s Project Big Picture stance in Premier League meeting
Everton’s chief executive officer has come out with strong opposition to the "Project Big Picture" proposals reportedly led by Liverpool and Manchester United.
Denise Barrett-Baxendale spoke at a Premier League meeting on Wednesday and made Everton’s stance on the ideas, which include scrapped the League Cup and Community Shield and reducing the Premier League to 18 teams, abundantly clear.
The ECHO understands that Everton’s CEO was one of the first to speak out in opposition, citing her belief that it was the right thing for all supporters of the wider game, not just the 20 clubs in the top flight.
Here’s the full story .
Premier League chief gives reassurance amid further lockdown fears
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has reassured football fans that further COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown measures are unlikely to see matches cancelled.
Saturday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison comes as Liverpool has been placed into the most severe of the government’s new three-tier procedures.
There are fears that rising cases of the virus could see further lockdown measures introduced, but Masters believes that the Premier League will continue to go ahead.
"We think we’ve got a proven model that works in Project Restart, and at the moment we’re happy and so are government,” he said. “We can continue."
Masters also addressed the potential for fans to return to stadia in the coming months. Read what he had to say here .
