Everton's Howard is targeting Liverpool smash and grab raid


Tim Howard has set the tone for another explosive Merseyside derby by warning Liverpool to expect a 'smack in the mouth' at Anfield on Monday.

Liverpool will be toppled as Barclays Premier League leaders if Manchester United win at Bolton on Saturday and there seems little prospect of an easy route back to the top, judging by Howard's frank appraisal of Everton's uncompromising approach.

David Moyes' side go into the opening instalment of a double-header with Liverpool in prime form after banishing their early season woes and closing on the top four with a run of six successive clean sheets.

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Tim Howard of Everton

Howard: getting back to basics

Accounting for such a transformation isn't always straightforward, but Howard had a ready explanation that may just send a chill through Rafa Benitez and his men.

'The key for me is we have got back to the style that has made us so successful in recent times,' said Everton's former Manchester United keeper.

'I remember facing Everton at Goodison Park and losing, and the abiding memory was the way they got the ball upfield double-quick. No nonsense, particularly in the defensive third. Just get it up there, then let the likes of Mikel Arteta, Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar do their stuff.


'We probably went into the season trying to play a bit too much football. We were taking risks. Some teams do that and it comes off for them. It looks great, everyone applauds and hats off to them but we are not that team and never have been.

'No one ever billed us that way, so we had to get back to basics - smash people in the mouth, get the ball upfield and let the creative guys get it down and play.

'Mikel Arteta summed it up for me in the 1-0 win at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day. The ball would be bouncing about in midfield and suddenly he'd be up there, rising above everyone else, winning the header and setting up an attack.

'I'm looking at it and thinking, "Was that really Mikel? Where has that come from?" He was tackling back and doing the lot and on the back of that he scored twice against Sunderland and again did almost as much in our area as theirs.

'I remember him tracking back to our box and sliding along the turf to win a key tackle and I'm thinking, "That's one of our most creative players. Unbelievable". I've no idea where it has come from - maybe the manager, or maybe it's just infectious because he has seen others doing the same.

'That will be our approach and we will see if it can ruffle Liverpool. They are not easily ruffled but we will play to our strengths and see if we can't at least put them to the test. It won't be a case of hitting people because it's Liverpool - we'll be hitting people because it's the way we play best.'

Howard is unlikely to be intimidated by an Anfield full house or baying Kop after his experiences for the USA against arch-rivals Mexico.

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Tim Howard

Prime form: Howard will be ready for Torres and co this time round

'The Merseyside derby is more intense than any I have known at club level, but USA against Mexico really is something else,' he said. 'It may not mean a whole lot to people over here but, believe me, it is bedlam, absolutely crazy.

'What happens? What doesn't? Even when we have home advantage, the crowd is always pro-Mexico, because our country is such a cultural melting pot with so many Latinos.

'There is a genuine hatred that is always boiling over. You get bust-ups in the tunnel, on the pitch, everywhere. Cheap shots, trying to wind each other up and all sorts of missiles hurled from the sidelines.

'People say the respect between Liverpool and Everton isn't what it used to be, but you want to see it when we play Mexico. I'm closer to the crowd than anyone and I've had bottles and coins go whizzing past my ear or land at my feet. It can be scary, but thankfully I haven't been hit so far. The security guys do their best but it is clearly a hopeless task because missiles rain down on us every time.

'It is no better between the players, either. Never mind swapping shirts, we don't even shake hands at the end of the game. It just never happens. That's what the feeling is like between the teams. It all stems from the fact that they have been the dominant team over there for ever and a day.

'They consider themselves royalty, in football terms, whereas we have never even played the game, let alone produced a team capable of winning games. That's how they view us and now we're the dominant force, they don't like it one bit.

'I'll tell you, playing at altitude in the Azteca in front of 110,000 screaming, hostile Mexicans is something you have to experience. You can't even compare Anfield to the Azteca in terms of intimidation, because the Azteca wins hands down every time.'



David Moyes' men have not conceded in six matches - since Ashley Young's stirring winner at Goodison for Aston Villa.

December 13 Man City 0 Everton 1

December 22 Everton 0 Chelsea 0

December 26 Boro 0 Everton 1

December 28 Everton 3 Sunderland 0

January 3 Macclesfield 0 Everton 1

January 10 Everton 2 Hull 0