Everton manager Frank Lampard insists there is still a long way to go in the battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League despite his side’s crucial 1-0 victory over Chelsea.
A hugely significant 1-0 victory came courtesy of Richarlison’s fourth goal in five matches and a brilliant second-half goalkeeping performance from Jordan Pickford.
Lampard’s side have taken 10 points from the last 12 at home and a gruff Goodison, both away before the game and inside throughout, will play a huge role in their future with two more fixtures at home remaining.
Burnley and Leeds, with an inferior goal difference, are just two points behind and Everton have one game less – at home to Crystal Palace three days before the final day of the season – so their fate remains in their hands.
However, Lampard remains cautious.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Everton’s win over Chelsea in the Premier League.
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Lampard: ‘It’s hard to say it’s in our hands, there’s still a lot to do’
“I don’t know what you have in your hands down the table,” added the Everton boss.
“If it was Liverpool and Manchester City you would think they would win every game and so in your hands it’s great at the moment. But are we expecting Burnley to win every game? At the minute maybe yes Do we expect Leeds to win every game?
“He thinks it’s hard to say what’s in our hands and that’s because we can only control certain things – and that’s where we play.
“That’s the hard thing about yesterday, we can’t control Burnley. We can’t control Leeds. We can only control ourselves. Over the five games we’ll have to control ourselves well enough to get enough points. We don’t know what it is (total).
“My feeling is that there is a long way to go.”
Everton’s remaining fixtures
May 7 – Leicester
May 11 – Watford (a)
May 15 – Brentford
May 19 – Crystal Palace (h)
May 22 – Armory (one)
Lampard: We needed an extra push
A huge crowd of Everton fans gathered to welcome the team ahead of their game against Chelsea
Before the match, Lampard felt it was time to explain the reality of the club’s precarious situation to his players ahead of Chelsea’s visit and he was delighted with their response.
Burnley’s late surprise comeback against Watford on Saturday had left Lampard’s side five points clear of safety going into the game and the manager decided he needed to remedy that before they arrived at Goodison Park.
“I think it was an important time to talk about the reality of the situation,” he said.
“You can keep telling the players to believe. Then there are other times when the demands are the same.
“Being good guys is not enough to stay in this league. It’s clear what the table looks like.
“My feeling was that we needed an extra push, a little extra attention, and to be fair, the players provided it.
“I briefly mentioned it (Burnley’s result) to the players this morning because I wanted to make sure it wasn’t fear or lack of hope with the points difference.
Souness: Pickford won the game for Everton | Redknapp: It’s the end of the season
Richarlison may have grabbed the goal that sealed Everton’s victory, but arguably more important on this occasion was the performance of Jordan Pickford, who after facing no shots on target for nearly an hour, then produced an impromptu cameo to keep Chelsea at bay and the lead intact in the second half.
His superb denial of Cesar Azpilicueta, crossing his goal after being beaten by Mason Mount was the pick of the pack and described by sky sports‘ Jamie Redknapp as backup of the season.
“Whoever will deny Azpilicueta is the stoppage of the season, Redknapp said. “It was magnificent. We’ve given Pickford a lot of stick in the past, but he was brilliant.”
sky sportsGraeme Souness added: “Jordan Pickford won the game for Everton singlehandedly with his saves. Some of the saves he has no right to go near them.”
Pickford: That’s what I’m here for
Jordan Pickford celebrates after making a save
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after displaying his man of the match:
“That’s what I’m here for, and it’s a team effort at the end of the day, it’s about getting three points. I really enjoyed it but that’s what I’m there to do, to help the team.
“We can’t get too carried away, we have to keep fighting and the fans have played a huge role.”
Tuchel: What can I do against mistakes?
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Thomas Tuchel has admitted Chelsea’s individual mistakes are a concern and he felt his players’ performances weren’t good enough as they were beaten 1-0 by Everton at Goodison Park.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel had to lament another individual error – Cesar Azpilicueta lost possession at the edge of his own penalty area – which left them anxiously looking over their shoulder in the race for a place among the first four.
“What can I do? Giving up a goal is the worst thing that can happen to you,” he said.
“It’s our responsibility. It happens too often. We struggle to play without big mistakes and that’s why we struggle to get results.
“In the last matches we have struggled to have a clean sheet, the last four matches we have had a clean sheet.
“Very disappointed. We knew what was coming from the opponent: the public and the way they would approach the game. No one was surprised.”
Chelsea’s remaining matches
May 7 – Wolves (h)
May 11 – Leeds (a), live on Sky Sports
May 14 – Liverpool (n), FA Cup Final
May 19 – Leicester City (h)
May 22 – Watford (h)
And after?
Everton’s next clash is a trip to Leicester City, ahead of their crucial game at Watford on May 11. Frank Lampard’s side end the season with home games against Brentford and Crystal Palace, then travel to Arsenal on the final day of the season.
Chelsea will host Wolves next weekend, before traveling to Leeds on May 11, live on sky sports, in their last game before their FA Cup final with Liverpool a few days later. The Blues then have home games against Leicester and Watford to complete the season.
