Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor O'Neill

'When you sign up' - Frank Lampard reveals West Ham message as Everton 'challenge' claim made

Everton manager Frank Lampard has explained how he plans to lift his players ahead of this weekend’s game against West Ham United.

The Blues head to the London Stadium in need of all three points against one of their relegation rivals. West Ham are currently level on points with Everton.

Lampard’s side are without a win since October and were beaten 2-1 by Southampton last time out. The Blues have only managed to win four games in all competitions so far this season.

READ MORE: Arnaut Danjuma latest as Villarreal transfer stance confirmed amid Everton links

READ MORE: James Tarkowski breaks silence on Everton protests and sends blunt message to team-mates

But speaking following the defeat to Nathan Jones’ side, Lampard explained how he planned to lead from the front and lift his side to give them the best chance of returning to winning ways this weekend.

He said: “We have to. It is one of the hardest things about being in these situations of a fight is that when you lose games, and we were there last year, is that you go again.

“We have got time and everybody has to lift and the first person to do that is me. Simple as that.”

The pressure has been mounting on Lampard in recent weeks with a string of poor performances leading to speculation that he could be next in line for the sack. However, the Everton boss insists he is not feeling drained by the challenge of turning things around.

“No, because when you sign up for this job and you take the challenge of managing Everton in the place where we were last year you have to take on that,” he said when asked if he was feeling drained.

“I am fortunate in the fact that I have been in the game a long time and you become tough to these things. You need support around you. It becomes your life and the only thing I want to do is try and bring success to this club, whatever the relative success is.

“The challenge of that is always a good thing. I think sometimes in management, and maybe life, you have to see what the best opportunity is to try and turn this around.”

READ NEXT:

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.