Michael Ball makes ‘massive’ Everton admission ahead of Carabao Cup clash v Fulham

[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]

 

Sean Dyche’s side welcomes the Cottagers to Goodison Park on Tuesday (19 December) knowing that a win will book their place in the Carabao Cup semi-final and leave them one round away from a final at Wembley.

While the focus for Everton this season has been on avoiding the relegation battle at the bottom of the Premier League, Ball has urged the Toffees to not miss their opportunity.

 

Writing in the Liverpool Echo (19 December) he said: “Tonight’s Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Fulham is a massive game for the football club. The chance to get into the semi-finals of a cup competition does not come around very often – even less so when you are Everton.

“The other big thing about tonight’s game is that we seriously owe Fulham one. Twice, they have come to Goodison Park this year and walked away with all three points.

“With Wembley just two games away, tonight is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss, and I am confident we will be in Wednesday night’s draw for the last four.”

As Ball suggests, it isn’t too often that the Toffees find their way into the quarter-finals of a cup competition and it would be a great shame if Everton let this opportunity pass them by without grasping it with both hands. That starts with Tuesday’s clash at Goodison Park.

Fulham have repeatedly thwarted Dyche’s side, especially at Goodison Park and as the end of 2023 draws near, Everton has an excellent chance to put that recent record right and beat Marco Silva’s side in front of a rocking Goodison Park.

The Toffees are one of the form teams in England currently and Fulham will not be looking forward to making the trip to Merseyside on Tuesday. If they play like they have in recent weeks, they will have more than quality to book their place in the semi-final.

There is a feeling of confidence around Goodison Park that hasn’t been felt in years and that is clear from Ball’s column, now the Toffees just have to match those expectations and not slip up against Fulham. With no Manchester City or Arsenal in the competition, Dyche has a genuine chance of lifting a title at Wembley this season.