MX23RW : Friday, May 17 02:50:20| >> :120:18780:18780:

Everton boss Rafael Benitez wants players to turn Goodison Park into a fortress

Everton boss Rafael Benitez wants players to turn Goodison Park into a fortress
© Reuters
The Toffees have had to come from behind to win their last two home matches.

Everton manager Rafael Benitez wants to make Goodison Park a fortress to prove his side are strong enough to compete with the best.

The 3-1 victory over Burnley was the second successive home match the Spaniard's side had won after conceding the first goal, having done it just twice in the previous 59 Premier League matches.

Last season under predecessor Carlo Ancelotti Everton won just six and lost nine at Goodison Park with their 22 points at home the second-worst in their history.

Benitez is looking to change that having got off to the ideal start.

"We are looking to build a fortress here so people realise we are strong enough to compete against anyone," said the former Liverpool boss.

"I think it's really important (to be able to win from losing positions). It had been a long time that the team had not been reacting (to conceding the first goal) and we have done that twice now in front of the fans.

"That is what you are expecting from a team that cares. They show the commitment in every game.

"Even when we were losing the game, you see how they work, how hard they tried to change things and that's something the fans really appreciate."

The victory was achieved without last season's leading scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is expected to be out for at least two to three weeks with a broken toe and thigh injury.

In his absence centre-back Michael Keane scored his first since January, Andros Townsend found the net for the first time in almost 12 months while fellow new signing Demarai Gray made it three in four league matches since arriving.

"I think it is important for any team, if you want to be stronger, to have players who can score goals and not just depend on one player," added Benitez.

"The wingers are scoring goals, Richarlison can play as a striker or winger. Hopefully Salomon Rondon, a new addition, will score goals."

However, even with Calvert-Lewin's absence it is not going to be easy for out-of-favour playmaker James Rodriguez to get back into the side.

The club failed to offload the high-earning Colombia international in the summer and he has yet to feature in a matchday squad as Benitez said he is not yet fit enough.

"It doesn't change too much (for Rodriguez) because the position we are talking about is striker," said the Toffees boss.

"No one can argue about the quality of James but he is behind the others and if they continue playing like that it will not be easy for me."

ID:463730:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3548:

Click here for more stories about Rafael Benitez

Click here for more stories about Everton

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring against Newcastle United on September 11, 2021
Read Next:
Premier League Team of the Week - Ronaldo, Zaha, Pogba
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37277393336088
2Arsenal37275589286186
3Liverpool372310484414379
4Aston Villa37208976562068
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs371961271611063
6Chelsea371791175621360
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle371761481602157
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd37176145558-357
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton371212135560-548
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!