JAKARTA - Rafa Benitez said the Merseyside derby was important for Everton to end the bad trend they experienced after seven straight games without a win.
In contrast to Everton, their city rivals Liverpool, who will be hosted at Goodison Park on Wednesday local time (Thursday WIB), will arrive with confidence after winning with an identical score of 4-0 in their last two matches.
"This is an important game for us. We are in a negative trend and must immediately return to winning ways and the derby is always an opportunity to improve things," said Benitez quoted by Antara from Everton's official website, Wednesday.
| A team news update from the boss ahead of the Merseyside derby. #EVELIVWatch: https://t.co/HlqvaQPoLq pic.twitter.com/6BViMrvHWa
— Everton (@Everton) November 30, 2021
"I understand very well what this derby means to everyone and can't wait to do a good job."
Benitez will probably experience a different atmosphere as this will be his first Merseyside derby in charge of Everton, having previously been Liverpool manager.
He stressed the most important thing for Everton at this time is to regenerate confidence in order to find positive results again like at the start of the season.
"As a club it is important for us to restore confidence and play at the level we were at the start of the season," he said
"If we can do it this Wednesday, I don't have to say anything to the players. It will be an important and crucial injection for the confidence of this team," concluded Benitez.
Benitez said Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina and Tom Davies will still be out of the Merseyside derby, while Andre Gomes is considered not fit enough to return to play despite having attended another training session.
Everton are currently in 14th place in the standings with 15 points after being winless in the last seven games and losing five of them.
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