Liverpool: Everton captain Phil Jagielka said on Tuesday his side will be especially fired-up to win this weekend’s Merseyside derby against Liverpool after a horrific injury suffered by teammate Seamus Coleman on international duty.
Republic of Ireland defender Coleman is set to be sidelined for months after undergoing an operation on leg bones broken as a result of a tackle by Neil Taylor of Wales, who was sent off for the challenge, in last week’s goalless World Cup qualifier in Dublin
Jagielka hopes to speak to Coleman ahead of Saturday’s short trip to Liverpool’s Anfield ground — a venue where Everton have not won since 1999.
Just three days after the derby clash, Everton face Manchester United at Old Trafford and Jagielka told everton.tv on Tuesday: “We’ll all be thinking about him and, come Saturday and Tuesday, I’m sure he’ll have the TV on and be cheering us on.
“There’ll be no incentive needed, but the circumstances over the last few days might add a bit of a motivational edge on our behalf.
“We want to go out there and play well and it will be nice if we can all get to speak to Seamus beforehand.”
Right-back Coleman has started 26 of Everton’s 29 Premier League matches so far this season and fellow defender Jagielka added: “Seamus is a massive part of the furniture. He’s been here a long time now, he’s one of the leaders.
“All we can do is be there for him. He’s had the operation, it’s been a success and he’s on the slow road to recovery.
“As a club, a family, we have wished him a speedy recovery and we will be with him every step of the way. He’s a great lad and hopefully we can get him smiling around the club as soon as possible.
“He’ll be down at the moment because it’s not long since it happened.
“His friends and family away from football will help him through these initial stages.
“When he is able to do things it’s up to us as a club — the players, physios, coaches.
“I’m sure we’ll be able to get him to where he needs to get to.”
Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho cannot see his side slipping below Everton come the end of the season.
Everton, currently three places behind their fourth-placed city rivals in the league table, can cut the gap to just three points with a victory at Anfield.
Coutinho, who is away on international duty with Brazil, said he was concentrating only on Liverpool’s progress.
“I don’t think about [Everton’s form] or worry about that,” Coutinho told the reporters. “We will be ready. The derby is a very special match for everyone, the fans and the players.”
Liverpool are unbeaten in Merseyside encounters since 2010 but will face a Ronald Koeman side that have picked up 23 of 30 points since the turn of the year.
Coutinho acknowledged Everton’s recent progress and said it would mean a lot more to the fans if Liverpool could find a way to win the derby.
“We know what it means... this time it is even more because Everton have improved so much in recent weeks,” he added.
“We know it won’t be easy but we know we have to win, for our fans, for our morale and for everybody.” Liverpool have lost just one out of their 14 league games at Anfield this season, scoring 36 goals and conceding 13 in the process.
