UEFA CUP PREVIEW - Standard Liege (2) Everton (2):DAVID MOYES spoke of a potential turning point in Everton's season, but the fear at Goodison Park is that Standard Liege could signal a tipping point for the manager should his side exit the Uefa Cup against the Belgian champions tonight.
Moyes's frustrations with the frugal realities of life at Goodison have been well-documented in recent months but now that they have begun to impact on the relationship with his players, a positive diversion and progress into the Uefa Cup group stage have become a prerequisite at Stade Maurice Dufrasne.
Everton enter the second leg of this first-round match on the back of a precarious 2-2 home draw with Laszlo Boloni's side and aware their season could be written off before it has taken shape. A lame defeat in the League Cup at Blackburn Rovers preceded Saturday's humbling by Liverpool in the Merseyside derby when there was a stampede for the exits once Fernando Torres struck his second in the 62nd minute. Such was the lack of fight and quality in Everton's performance.
When Moyes convened a post-derby inquest at the club's Finch Farm training base this week his questions to senior players were returned with interest, with some asking whether he planned to commit to a new five-year contract or not. Moyes has said the contract delay has spread uncertainty throughout the club but denied again yesterday it had impacted on performances or would divert from the task against Liege.
But Moyes has spent his life in football, not Rada, and disillusionment has been etched on his face since the start of this season. He and his team need the fillip of a major victory more than ever. "I am sure the players will put my contract to one side and focus on the game," he insisted. "Their focus will only be on winning."
"It would be awful to be out of two competitions so early on in the season," admitted Tim Howard, the Everton goalkeeper who has yet to keep a clean sheet in eight matches this term.
"Last season one of the things that kept us going was being involved in Europe. When we were in the League Cup as well, it helped with our league form. We got better and better the more games that we played. . . . But all we have to do is go to Liege and win. It's that simple."
The events of a year ago offer optimism for tonight. Everton required a late 3-2 win away against Metalist Kharkiv to reach the group stage last October having drawn the first leg 1-1 at Goodison. What Moyes would give for a repeat.
"I hope it is similar to Kharkiv. We hope we are 90 minutes away from turning everything around," said Moyes who has Steven Pienaar available for the first time this season following his recovery from injury and could hand Louis Saha his full Everton debut to partner Yakubu up front.
"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. We have got to win. We know that a win here could kick-start our season."
Guardian Service
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