Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Andy Hunter

Sam Allardyce set to miss Everton’s Europa League match to focus on derby

Sam Allardyce makes a point to his Everton players during the 2-0 win over Huddersfield at Goodison Park – his first game in charge of the team
Sam Allardyce makes a point to his Everton players during the 2-0 win over Huddersfield at Goodison Park – his first game in charge of the team. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

Sam Allardyce may miss Everton’s Europa League match at Apollon Limassol to prepare for Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Anfield.

Allardyce has confirmed he will field a makeshift team on Thursday in order to make the Premier League trip to Liverpool the priority. Apollon and Everton, who have recorded the worst performance in the competition by an English team in history, cannot qualify from the group and the visitors are set to field several youngsters in Cyprus.

It has emerged Everton may also have a below strength technical area, with Allardyce set to work with the first-team squad at the Finch Farm training ground. The newly appointed coach Craig Shakespeare will take charge of the Europa League fixture.

Allardyce had only two full days to prepare for his first win as Everton manager – the 2-0 league defeat of Huddersfield Town on Saturday – and wants to spend more time with the senior squad before the visit to Anfield.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.