Toffees without a win in 10 matches, joint-bottom of the Premier League, decision comes a year and a week after Rafa Benitez’s exit.
Frank Lampard is expected to be sacked as Everton manager following a run of poor form that has left the Toffees joint-bottom of the Premier League. The decision comes a year and a week after the exit of Rafa Benitez, and less than a year since Lampard took over the managerial position on January 31st, 2022.
Saturday’s 2-0 loss away to West Ham was the club’s third consecutive defeat in the league and their tenth without a win in all competitions. The match was also attended by Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, who had not attended a game since October 2021.
Lampard, who arrived at Goodison Park with a wealth of experience as a former Chelsea boss, helped the club avoid the drop last season, but has picked up just 15 points from 20 games and just three wins this term, the worst victory record in the division.
The Toffees’ poor form has also seen them eliminated from both domestic cup competitions, and with just Southampton below them on goal difference, the club finds itself in a precarious position. Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor stated, “There is an inevitability about it. We are hearing that at some point a decision will be made and the expectation is it will be announced that Frank Lampard will be leaving his post as Everton manager.”
The decision to sack Lampard comes at a crucial point in the season for the club, with their next games against Arsenal on February 4th, followed by the Merseyside Derby, before back-to-back home games against Leeds and Aston Villa. These matches could play a significant role in determining Everton’s fate this season.
Speaking to Sky Sports News after their defeat to West Ham, Everton owner Moshiri said “it’s not my decision” when asked if Lampard’s time was up, while the manager insisted he remained focused on the challenge at hand in his final post-match interview.
“It’s my job to work and focus and keep my head down,” Lampard said. “I’ve got absolute confidence in how I want to coach. And if they are difficult conditions at the minute, for a lot of different reasons that I’m very aware of, then that’s it. I just have to do my job and it’s not for me to make too many diversions around it rather than talk about what I can affect and that’s the players, trying to get the right results.”
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, however, believes that the quality of the players at Lampard’s disposal may be the main issue, stating, “Sometimes you look at players and think, ‘they’re just waiting for the manager to go and then they’ll play.’ But it’s not like that with Lampard. I think they’re just not good enough.”
It remains to be seen who will take over as the next manager of Everton and if they will be able to turn the club’s fortunes around. But one thing is certain, the pressure is on for the Toffees to improve their results, and fast, as they fight to avoid relegation.
Everton next fixture will be February 4th – Arsenal (H), kick-off 13.30pm
