Sean Dyche has expressed his pride after Everton’s Merseyside derby win, stating that the combination of his players’ own determination and the energy provided by the Goodison Park crowd is exactly what he has been aiming for since his appointment almost 18 months ago.
Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave the Toffees a 2-0 win over local rivals Liverpool that takes them eight points clear of the relegation zone.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 |
Brentford
BRE
|
36 | -8 | 36 |
| 17 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
36 | -18 | 29 |
| 18 |
Luton
LUT
|
36 | -29 | 26 |
| 19 |
Burnley
BUR
|
36 | -35 | 24 |
| 20 |
Sheffield Utd
SHU
|
36 | -65 | 16 |
“The energy of the side, the commitment to the cause, and the shape were all in place, and they have to when you play some of these sides," Dyche told Everton's official website.
“I said it was a game for the people. I don’t understand the depth of these derbies because I’m not from here, but I’m learning quickly about what it’s like, and that one is for the people, and certainly one for the Evertonians, without a shadow of a doubt.
“The Toffees, I asked them to rise, and they are doing. Their voice was incredible. The noise was incredible, and the reaction to the performance was incredible, so we’re very pleased with that.
“[The fans] have been brilliant. They stood by us on Sunday, and we rewarded that with a good performance and a win. They stood by us again tonight and made it such an awkward place for Liverpool to come.
“The team have performed, as well. That mixture, that connection is what I’ve endlessly been trying to get here. It’s a long journey and there’s a lot of work to be done. There still is, but that’s a very pleasing moment amongst the recent time, and the ups and downs of what we do here.”
Star striker Calvert-Lewin, who powered in a header from a corner in the second half, echoed his manager's sentiment about the powerful relationship between players and fans.
“[The atmosphere] was electric, I felt it," he told the club website. "It’s not been like that for a while - it was extra special. It was a great experience and a great memory for everyone. It’s something that we will look to kick on from.
“It’s a local derby and I have been here long enough to know what it means to the fans - and what it means to me.
"It’s a great result given the circumstances, where we are in the league. We needed a massive three points and everything came together tonight.”
