Everton played out a 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Wednesday evening in preparation for the return of Premier League football on Boxing Day.
Frank Lampard took his side to United’s Carrington training complex for the behind closed doors tie, taking the opportunity to build the fitness of senior players who were given a short break following the mid-season tour of Australia last month.
The game was viewed by both sides as a training exercise, rather than a friendly, so there are few details about the game itself, but as most of the first team squad returned to training at Finch Farm last week, it is clear that Lampard is looking to utilize every possible opportunity to maximize the preparedness of his players ahead of the visit of Wolves next week.
Indeed, the Everton boss stated last month that he would be eager to set up behind closed doors fixtures during the closing stages of the World Cup.
Lampard said, “The players have a little bit of time off, which again I think this season is good for those ones who are due it and then we’ll train back into the season with a couple of friendlies, probably behind closed doors to give the lads some match practice and then it all starts again at the end of December.”
With reports of at least one more similar exercise arranged for the senior squad, such exercises could prove to be crucial as Premier League football resumes over the festive period, with the visit of Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves on December 26th already looking like a 6-pointer, with just 4 points separating 17th-placed Everton from the Midlands club who currently prop up the league in 20th place.
It is a must win games for Frank Lampard’s side, as the Blues look to avoid getting dragged into another relegation scrap, especially as it is followed by a trip to Manchester City on New Year’s Eve.