Welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's Monday live blog for all your latest Everton news and gossip.
The ECHO will provide breaking stories, reaction and comment to all the big talking points from Goodison Park as well as keeping tabs on transfer market gossip from around the world.
Rumoured Everton target and Bristol City starlet Alex Scott is reportedly wanted by Tottenham Hotspur.
Elsewhere, Gabriel Agbonlahor has provided his reaction to Manchester City's penalty awarded at Goodison Park on Saturday.
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Everton and Frank Lampard right to speak out
Everton have been a soft touch for far too long, writes Michael Ball.
I therefore thought it was brilliant and very refreshing to see Frank Lampard articulate the issues that the fans have been seeing for many years.
He’s probably going to get called in by the Football Association to explain his comments but I don’t care.
How many times have we seen other managers – especially Alex Ferguson – question these decisions and put a doubt in the referees’ minds.
He used to get fined but it was worth every penny because the officials would think ‘am I wrong?’ It would benefit his team.
I thought Frank’s comments were spot-on.
Read Bally's full column here.
Usmanov sanctioned by EU
Alisher Usmanov has been named by the EU as one of a number of oligarchs sanctioned for apparent ties to Vladimir Putin.
The Uzbekistan-born billionaire has links to Everton, with his company USM Holdings providing a number of Blues sponsorship agreements.
After Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, sanctions continue to be placed on the country, with those closely tied to President Putin being the latest to be targeted by measures.
The sanctions include an asset freeze and a prohibition from making funds available to the listed individuals and entities - as well as a travel ban to prevent them from entering or transiting through EU territory.
In an EU press release on Monday evening, the European Council confirmed "26 persons" had been added to a list of those subject to sanctions.
Read the full story from Adam Jones and Sean Bradbury here.
Russian clubs and national team suspended from FIFA/UEFA competitions
Russian clubs and national team suspended from Fifa/Uefa competitions
Russian clubs and national teams have been suspended from participating in FIFA and UEFA competitions, it has been announced.
Spartak Moscow are therefore set to be kicked out of the Europa League at the last-16 stage, with RB Leipzig progressing to the next round.
A UEFA statement read: "Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice.
"These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters.
"Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people."
Superb strike as Everton Women progress in FA Cup
Everton Women recorded a 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Kenza Dali scored her first goal for the Blues with a stunning strike before Anna Anvegard completed the scoring to send the team through to the quarter-finals.
First #EFC goal
— Everton Women (@EvertonWomen) February 28, 2022
Superb, @KenzaDali! @TGIFridaysUK pic.twitter.com/cmosTwRneS
Kevin Thelwell has four immediate jobs to do at Everton
New director of football Kevin Thelwell is expected to start work at Everton this week but just what might his first tasks be in the role?
After the club held a strategic football review and decided to retain the position – as revealed in the ECHO – following Marcel Brands’ departure in December, less than eight months after he had penned a new contract until 2024, Thelwell becomes the third man to hold the title after it was first created for Steve Walsh in 2016.
The 48-year-old has previously held positions in English football at Preston North End, Derby County and Wolverhampton Wanderers – spending 12 years at the latter, the last three-and-a-half of which were as Sporting Director.
Here’s a look at what activities will be high on his agenda at the Blues.
Everton make formal complaint over Man City decision
Everton have made a formal complaint to the Premier League over the decision not to award them a penalty against Manchester City.
Everton looked like they’d get the chance to score what would have been a deserved equaliser when Manchester City player Rodri handled the ball in his own area.
The Spaniard appeared to clearly control the ball with his arm – below the so-called ‘t-shirt’ line which the Premier League uses for supposed clarity for handball decisions – but the incident was not spotted by referee Paul Tierney.
The decision went to VAR but back at Stockley Park, Chris Kavanagh decided not to award a penalty and did not even deem it worthy of a second look by Tierney on the pitchside monitor available to view replays.
Chris Beesley has the full story here
Cuco Martina promise that led to 'dream' Everton transfer
Cuco Martina has revealed that he had to wait almost a year to get his move to Everton but the experience of pulling on the royal blue jersey at Goodison Park gave him 'goosebumps'.
Now back in the Netherlands playing for Go Ahead Eagles, Martina joined Everton on a Bosman-style free transfer in 2017 when his two-year contract at Southampton expired.
However, he could have signed the previous summer had Ronald Koeman, the manager who first took him to England with the south coast side, been allowed to seal a deal.
Nathan Patterson poised as Everton could make changes
Everton’s FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Boreham Wood on Thursday provides Frank Lampard with an ideal opportunity to shuffle his pack and give some playing time to those who have been on the fringes of the squad.
While Everton will of course be eager to avoid being victims of a giant-killing with the ITV cameras descending upon a sold out Goodison Park – a terrific achievement against non-league opposition in the circumstances – whatever team he puts out should, with respect, be capable of overcoming their National League opponents.
With the Blues also tasked with moving further away from the relegation zone, it will be intriguing to see if Lampard opts for wholesale changes or looks to build confidence.
Chris Beesley has the full story here
Everton in 'battle' to sign Bristol City starlet Alex Scott
Everton are reportedly in a four-way “transfer battle” to sign Bristol City starlet Alex Scott.
The Blues are named by The Hard Tackle as one of several clubs monitoring Scott's progress, alongside Tottenham, Leicester and West Ham.
Scott has been a regular starter for Bristol City this season, with the versatile midfielder occupying defensive midfield, number 10 and right wing roles in his 28 league appearances this term.
Despite a number of Premier League clubs allegedly being interested in the teenager, the report claims that Spurs are “leading the race” for the youngster.
Gabriel Agbonlahor claims Rodri decsion shows 'favouritism'
Gabriel Agbonlahor has compared Manchester City to their local rivals after the decision not to award Everton a penalty for handball against Rodri on Saturday.
The Blues lost 1-0 to the league leaders but were denied the chance of a late penalty after referee Paul Tierney was not advised by VAR to review what appeared to be a clear handball from the Spanish midfielder.
Despite a positive performance from Frank Lampard’s side, it is a result that leaves Everton just a point above the relegation zone and Agbonlahor has accused the officials of ”favouritism”.
“That incident reminds me of the favouritism that Manchester United used to get under Fergie,” the former Aston Villa striker told talkSPORT.
“They used to get all the decisions. All the refs were on their side in the big moments of the game.
“Any neutral watching that game just then, it’s a penalty. Especially with the new rules now.”
Agbonlahor added: “If it was the other way around, if (Mason) Holgate had done that or one of the centre-halves for Everton, it would definitely be given as a penalty.”
Anwar El Ghazi makes blunt Rafa Benitez claim
Anwar El Ghazi has had more managers than appearances for Everton so far but he’s convinced the Blues will stay up.
Signed from Aston Villa by Rafa Benitez in January, the winger never made an appearance under the Spanish coach and was unavailable against his parent club in Duncan Ferguson’s sole game in temporary charge.
El Ghazi has since made two cameo appearances under new boss Frank Lampard and is determined to help the Blues steer clear of the relegation zone.
Chris Beesley has the full story here
Good morning, Blues
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