Everton focused on continuation of recent good form against Liverpool says Phelan | OneFootball

Everton’s interim head coach Scott Phelan says that the team’s main focus will be to continue to do the things that have made them successful when they face Liverpool in the fifth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup this weekend.

The Toffees travel to St Helens off the back of three consecutive league wins, two of which have come under Phelan’s temporary tenure.

When speaking to the media in the pre-match press conference, Phelan said that he has tried to implement a winning mentality from day one and that confidence has been lifted by recent results.

“One of the first things that we tried to achieve when I arrived was to create a mentality within the group to win games of football,” Phelan said. “That’s what I mentioned in terms of the context of the league but also, it’s what the talent in the squad should have been able to achieve anyway, regardless of form.

“We are excited, we are confident from the recent run of form and hopefully, that can help us moving into an exciting fixture at the weekend.”

Everton were Adobe Women’s FA Cup winners in 2010 while they have twice been runners-up since. Phelan said that it’s important to build on the club’s history in the competition.

He said “It’s really important. There’s a little bit of history with the club and the FA Cup in previous years and it’d be amazing if the current squad could have those kind of memories that they can keep with them. Cups can bring a different distraction to the league and hopefully, we can experience some nice moments.”

The Merseyside derby is arguably one of the ‘ties of the round’ but Phelan wants his team to put emotions to one side and focus on what has made them successful in recent weeks.

He said “It maybe adds a little bit of emotion that isn’t evident in other fixtures but the focus on our group is to perform and represent the club in a way that we expect, regardless of the opposition. 

“The Liverpool element adds a little bit to it, of course. It’s a football city and it’d be wrong to say it means nothing, that’s definitely not the case, but in terms of steering too far away, just because it’s a local opposition, that shouldn’t be the case either.

“We are focused on what we believe we have to do to give us a good performance level and that’s been consistent over the last two weeks and in the last two league games. Our main focus is to continue to show the main qualities that we have that have brought us a better feeling recently.”

Everton’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Liverpool kicks-off at 4.30pm on Sunday.