Everton manager Roberto Martinez has admitted that his side possess fears going into this weekend’s Merseyside derby against Liverpool, as reported by the Daily Star.
The Goodison Park club have an unfortunate record at the home of their biggest rivals, with the Toffees having not won against the Reds in the last 15 years.
It was hoped that Martinez’s appointment would change that fact, but Liverpool managed a staggering 4-0 win at Anfield last season, the heaviest loss Everton have suffered since their last win.
In fact, their last win at Anfield came on September 27, 1999, when they managed a 1-0 victory.
Tomorrow’s clash between the two sides falls on the same date, which could be a good omen for the blue half of Liverpool.
Martinez is hoping that could be a boon, but also said: “I think the psychology is a very important point because if you look at the stats, 15 years without a win at Anfield then it needs to be a bit more than football.
“It can’t always be a football reason why you haven’t won a game over that period.
“So I’ll accept that, but I think the psychology of the group, we are ready to go anywhere.
“I’m not highlighting Anfield as a place we don’t look forward to.
“I think the mentality of the group is to go anywhere and focus on our performance.
“Will be it be a difficult game? Of course.
“They are in a position where they need to perform well at home and get points, but I don’t see that psychologically we are not ready to go to Anfield and be ourselves.
“But if you look back over the last 15 years, there could be a question mark, it’s more than football issues that are in a football game to dictate the scoreline.”
Last season’s win was the inspiration behind Liverpool’s unlikely charge to second place, with the Anfield club also challenging for the title.
Everton narrowly missed out on the Champions League places in the last weeks of the season.
