Everton FC News: We have nothing to fear against Benfica at Goodison Park, David Moyes

Nov 5 2009 by Philip Kirkbride, Liverpool Daily Post

Everton FC News: MANAGER David Moyes fully expects Benfica to attack his team this evening – but says with a vocal home support, Everton have nothing to fear.

Everton welcome the Lisbon giants for matchday four of their Group I Europa League campaign looking to avenge that heavy loss a fortnight ago.

Moyes’s men lost 5-0 in the Estadio da Luz as the club’s injury crisis took hold.

But with a solid 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday and the confidence returning, the manager insists his side can overturn the group favourites and reclaim top spot.

Everton are second behind the Portuguese side on goal difference and though excited by the impending arrival of The Eagles, the news star midfielder Mikel Arteta has suffered another setback in his return from a knee injury has tempered the mood.

Moyes said: “The first game (5-0) was a sighter for us. Certainly we knew how good Benfica were, and how improved Benfica had been. But who knows if the last game will have any bearing on this game.

“I think a win for either us or Benfica would give us a good chance of qualifying, but you have to earn it because we are playing against a good side who have been in good form so we will have to play well. I always thought Benfica would be favourites in the group so from that point of view it is going the way I thought. Their defeat in Athens was a little bit of a shock to me, but overall it just shows you that going anywhere it is not easy to win. Benfica lost in Athens, we lost in Benfica, Athens have lost in BATE, so it just shows you that the group is actually quite tight. Goodison has always been special for me, we are very fortunate we qualified for Europe last year and we are going to try and embrace it and do as well as we can.

“I think it is something the supporters have really enjoyed as well. I think they know we will need their support tonight because it is a big game and we are playing against some really good players.

“I think we are a bit more resilient now, a bit harder to play against and there were some bits of it (the draw with Villa) that were pleasing so that hopefully will give us a little bit of a platform to improve and play better going forward.

“He (Arteta) has had a wash-out of his knee. He had an infection from some bacteria so it has been washed-out. It is a setback but I couldn’t tell you clearly how long that will be.

“We will have the same squad which played against Aston Villa, with the exception of Lucas Neill and Johnny Heitinga who can’t play because the rules of the competition, but with a bit of luck Tony Hibbert might recover from flu.”

Moyes says Benfica are a side who will soon progress to the Champions League, as Fiorentina have done this season, and believes Everton should be aspiring to reach similar goals.

EVERTON are advising supporters planning to attend tonight’s Europa group game against Benfica to purchase their tickets in plenty of time.

Tickets for the clash with the Portuguese giants are on sale now from the usual outlets – online, over the phone (0871 663 1878) or from the Box Office.

But club officials are anticipating a significant number of supporters will buy their tickets in the hours leading up to kick off.

In order to minimise queuing and to ensure fans are inside Goodison in plenty of time to enjoy the Europa League action, supporters are urged to leave themselves plenty of time on Thursday.