Everton manager Roberto Martinez is confident his team can deal with Liverpool’s fearsome forward pairing.
Strike duo Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge head into Saturday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park having scored 18 goals between them in all competitions.
Martinez is well aware of the danger they pose, but is concerned mainly about getting his own side’s approach right rather than formulating a specific plan to nullify them.
The Spaniard said: “They have had a very good start to the season, they are very influential in their team.
“From that partnership up front, they’ve got a real goalscoring threat.
“You do see why Liverpool have been successful this season, it is not an accident. I do feel they are a strong side.
“But as a team, you are always used to coping with threats of the opposition.
“Not long ago we had a very good team full of individuals here – Spurs – and we dealt with them really well. It is more about what we can do and how we can perform in the derby rather than being worried about what the opposition can bring.”
Everton’s current strength appears to be their defence, which has not allowed a goal in their last three outings.
On the downside, they have not scored in their last two matches, either, with goalless draws against Tottenham and Crystal Palace. Yet Martinez is not overly concerned about that.
“We haven’t been scoring goals due to certain aspects that we need to work on, but the way we have been getting in the final third has been fantastic,” he said.
“That is where the excitement comes.
“We are very close to getting into a position where we can control games and score goals at the end of it.
“We see it as a normal process we need to get through, rather than something that is lacking.”
Both Merseyside clubs have started the season well.
“This could be a very significant game,” he said. “It makes it an opportunity we want to take. We want to get away from the feeling of just fighting for the Merseyside rights.”
Norwich City’s Hughton remains patient with Van Wolfswinkel
Norwich City manager Chris Hughton will not rush striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel back into action from a toe injury, but is confident the club’s record signing will soon be among the goals again.
Van Wolfswinkel is said to have received treatment at a specialist in London over the international break.
There was much hype surrounding the summer arrival of the 24-year-old from the Netherlands in an £8.5 million (Dh50.3m) deal from Sporting Lisbon, but so far Van Wolfswinkel has managed just one goal in eight appearances – a header on his debut against Everton on the opening day of the new season.
Then followed the scoring drought and the injury. “When you have signed someone as a record signing, there is always that hype and expectation that comes with it,” Hughton said. “He took a little time to settle in when he moved to Portugal, so I have no worries about him.”
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