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Frank Lampard will take charge of Everton’s FA Cup clash with Manchester United despite calls for him to be sacked after the appalling 4-1 defeat at home to Brighton… but his long-term future lies in doubt less than a year after taking office.
- Frank Lampard to manage Everton’s FA Cup tie at Manchester United
- There have been questions about Lampard’s long-term future at the Merseyside club.
- The Premier League side have lost eight of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
- The pressure is therefore on the 44-year-old Lampard to get a result at Old Trafford on Friday.
- Owner Farhad Moshiri will make the final decision on whether the boss stays
Frank Lampard will take charge of Everton’s FA Cup tie at Manchester United, but his long-term future remains in doubt.
The under-pressure manager of Everton, whose team have lost eight of their last 11 games in all competitions, reported to work at Finch Farm shortly after 9am yesterday morning to examine the remains of the 4-1 defeat. Tuesday against Brighton.
The 44-year-old is under no illusions how sorry his position is and the fear is that another major defeat at Old Trafford will bring down the curtain on a reign that began on January 31 last year – owner Farhad Moshiri will make the decision. final on whether Lampard stays or leaves.
Frank Lampard will take charge of Everton’s FA Cup tie at Manchester United on Friday
Heavy defeats have often been the catalyst for Moshiri to pull the trigger, but Lampard avoided that fate yesterday and started the business with his coaching staff of trying to evoke a response from a team whose consistency has been their inconsistency.
Lampard spoke with Kevin Thelwell, Everton’s director of football, and Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief executive, who was on a pre-planned tour of the facility, before holding a warm-up session with the team around midday.
The Toffees lost 4-1 to Brighton as their miserable comeback from the World Cup continued.
There were calls for Lampard to be sacked after the match amid the club’s poor form.
Thelwell also spoke at length with Lampard on Tuesday night at Goodison Park following a performance so anemic that it has led many to wonder if Everton can repeat what they did last year and avoid relegation.
Much of Lampard’s team left Finch Farm between 1pm and 2pm, to get some rest before a trip to Old Trafford looks even more daunting. However, there is a feeling that whatever you do, the foregone conclusion is simply being delayed.
Sean Dyche is the favorite to take over – he was in this position when Ronald Koeman was sacked in October 2017 – and would be available to start immediately, as would former manager Roberto Martínez, who continues to have fans within the club.
The Merseyside club are yet to win since returning to Premier League action this winter.
Owner Farhad (right) Moshiri will make the final decision on whether the boss (c) stays
It’s hard not to like Lampard, who managed to keep Everton in the Premier League last season but then saw his best player, Richarlison, sold to Tottenham. The departure of the Brazilian has had a serious impact on Everton’s scoring threat.
They have only scored two goals or more in a game twice in 17 Premier League games, the last being on October 22, but they are struggling to bring in a player who can solve that problem. They were linked with Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom yesterday but have no interest in him.
More to follow…