Moyes hoping to get the good times rolling
The Toffees have made an inauspicious start to the season, notably losing all three of their Barclays Premier League matches in front of their own fans at Goodison Park.
Last Wednesday they were dumped out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle by Blackburn, and now a week later they could face an early exit from the UEFA Cup after drawing 2-2 in the first leg at Goodison Park.
In the background lurks Moyes’ unresolved contract situation.
Should Everton be eliminated from the UEFA Cup tonight at the hands of Liege, that is likely to add to the growing unease in the blue half of Merseyside.
The Belgian champions are favourites to progress after a 2-2 first-round, first-leg draw at Goodison Park a fortnight ago. First-half goals from Ayegbeni Yakubu and Segundo Castillo rescued Everton that night after Standard had twice taken the lead.
Yet whilst Moyes appreciates all may not be rosy on the pitch this season, he knows a win his side are more than capable of is all that is required to turn the tide.
“We know a draw for them will suffice and that we have to win the game by a goal — some way or other we have to do that,” insisted Moyes.
“But we also know how quickly things can change. We hope we’re only 90 minutes away from good times again. That’s the plan.”
Everton find themselves in a similar situation to a year ago when they were surprisingly held in the first leg of their first-round tie at home by Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv.
A 3-2 win on the road followed to see them into the group phase, but Moyes knows Standard are a cut above in comparison.
“There are a few similarities this season compared to last season, especially with the first game at Goodison being a draw,” added Moyes. “A lot of people thought we might get through against Kharkiv, who were a really good team. But Standard have shown they are a quality side, so it will be a difficult challenge. We always knew it was going to be tough after watching them almost put Liverpool out of the Champions League.
“We know we’ve given ourselves a hard task, but we were very good away from home last year. We will use that as motivation for the players.
“This competition is really important for us and we want to stay in it.”
Everton won four successive away games in Europe last season prior to a defeat at Fiorentina in the last 16 when they eventually went out on penalties.
Reaching that stage seems far away now, in particular with the side shipping two goals per game this season.
“That’s so unlike us. We need to tighten up, and we’re trying to do that,” asserted Moyes. “I think it comes down to a lack of confidence and individual errors. But they’re good players and I’m sure they’ll improve.”
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