Season › 2015-16 › News Jagielka: “No massive derby favourites” Lyndon Lloyd , 3 October, 9comments | Jump to most recent Phil Jagielka has been downplaying the notion that Everton go into tomorrow's Goodison derby as favourites, pointing to the fact that just one point will separate the two clubs at the start of play. Much of the focus of the pre-match build-up has been on the mounting pressure on Brendan Rodger's shoulders and the suggestion that the Blues' better form gives them the edge. As a veteran of a number of disappointing results against the reds, however, Jagielka is not getting carried away by any suggestion that Everton have the edge. “I don’t see there being a massive underdog or massive favourite,” Jagielka told the press. “But maybe you are used to it being so far the other way that it is being built up differently. “There’s only one point between us. We’ve both had decent starts but for whatever reason it seems the Red half are getting a bit more stick than the Blues.” Liverpool's historically superior financial resources – the last three Anfield managers have spent a combined £427m &8221; means that they are usually perennial favourites in meetings with Everton and it adds pressure for the man who will be sitting in the visitors' dugout tomorrow. “Maybe it’s to do with budgets, transfers, player ins and outs. The clubs had totally different summers, with expectations. But we’re not both sat with four points. We’re both in healthy positions," Jagielka continued. They have a lot of ability. But we also need our players to step up and make sure they’re thinking about us more than we’re thinking about them.” Reader Comments (9) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Brian Williams 1 Posted 03/10/2015 at 09:04:39 Last sentence sums it up for me.If we play to our best and don't freeze on the day, we’ll win. Chelsea are a much better side than them and we blew them away because we played confidently with a little bit of swagger at times.I’d have Gerry on from the start, Lukaku and Kone up front.Two-nil, Everton. Alex Jones 2 Posted 03/10/2015 at 10:15:11 I wish our captain would be a bit more bullish. We’re the better side and at home: we should expect to win. Jags has been fantastic for us for years but I’d rather Coleman was captain as he has the required aggression. Jags is too nice both on and off the field. Mark Andersson 3 Posted 03/10/2015 at 10:21:27 Good article Jags is taking the pressure off his team.Play with confidence and conviction and we can get 3 points. I’m in two minds whether to watch it live or wait until I know the score. My hatred for the shite grows deeper by the year. Karl Parsons 4 Posted 03/10/2015 at 10:46:18 I'm happy to go in as favourites.If you look at the teams they have played in the Prem this year it's obvious we are favourites to beat them. Yes only one point separates us both but they've played the mighty Stoke, Bournemouth, West Ham, Villa and Norwich with only what I would call two tough fixtures against Arse and United.I want us to smash them and go some way to repaying us for years of poor performances against them. #NoFear Brent Stephens 5 Posted 03/10/2015 at 13:18:42 Maybe for a change I'm happy to be marginal favourites and for our lads to see it that way and feel it that way, too - go into the game with confidence and not fear. Julian Wait 6 Posted 03/10/2015 at 17:31:17 Agree with Brian #1. Last sentence is all we need to think about. Put them on the back foot if we can. But also be prepared to let them have the ball in their half and hit them on the counter - we've been more effective doing that away from home this season. Minik Hansen 7 Posted 03/10/2015 at 18:07:32 Looking forward to the game, specifically for Lukaku. I just got this feeling he's gonna make this his game. Galloway sure has stepped up, looking forward to him as well as the whole squad! ;) John Paul McGurk 8 Posted 04/10/2015 at 08:44:23 I HATE Liverpool Dave Abrahams 9 Posted 04/10/2015 at 08:59:56 John Paul (8) don't we all especially on derby day, you wouldn't be a proper Evertonian if you didn't hate them, that doesn't mean you can't appreciate some of the good things about them.I'm always more at ease arguing with a red nose who hates Everton, at least they are honest, none of this shite. "We are all from the same city", hardly any of them are anyway. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads © ToffeeWeb