Distin backs off-target Toffees

Sylvain Distin is refusing to panic despite a chronic lack of finishing from his team-mates this season.
Everton were guilty of missing a clutch of chances during Saturday's 0-0 draw with Wigan at Goodison Park.
Currently sitting 15th in the Premier League, the Toffees can point to many occasions when poor finishing has cost them valuable points.
Despite admitting the lack of a clinical touch was a growing concern, Distin insists there will be no finger-pointing within the Everton dressing room.
"It's a team game, I'm not going to start blaming anyone," said Distin in The Sun.
"I am not worried because we created a lot of chances again. If we hadn't created the chances then maybe it would be difficult.
"But maybe we are opening teams up, so it is about fine tuning - the last pass, the last shot.
"We have to be patient. What else can we do? Do we give up or carry on? We carry on working and I'm sure our luck will change. I have been in the game long enough to know that one goal can change everything.
"It is a bad run. That's football, you have to deal with that. But we can change that next week."
Man. City 4/6, Draw 13/5, Everton 9/2
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Moyes could sell Pienaar

Everton boss David Moyes has conceded he may be forced to sell Steven Pienaar in the January transfer window to help raise funds for a new striker.
Moyes admits the club need striking reinforcements after drawing another blank in the goalless draw at home to Wigan at the weekend.
The Toffees have struggled for goals this season with Louis Saha, who started against Wigan, yet to score in the Premier League since last February.
Pienaar is out of contract in the summer and as yet has failed to agree a new deal at Goodison Park.
A number of clubs are thought to be trailing the South African schemer and Moyes could decide to cash in on the midfielder rather than risk losing him for nothing in the summer.
However, Moyes admits he is likely to be forced to look to the loan market to bring in a new forward next month.
"It may well come to it in the January transfer window that we have to consider selling Pienaar to raise money, because he is out of contract in the summer," said Moyes.
"But we know we need a striker, and realistically, the sort of money we will raise through that route, what type of player is it going to buy for us in the January market.
"The sort of money I'd raise, I don't think it will attract the type of player we need, the type of player we are looking for to provide the goals.
"The sort of money it will cost, I don't think selling a player will solve that particular problem, and it is probably a reality that we will have to look at bringing in a loan player, that it will be the loan market we will need to look at to provide some sort of solution."
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Fellaini - Toffees are angry

Marouane Fellaini has warned Chelsea that they will come up against an 'angry' Everton side at Stamford Bridge as they look to put right last weekend's home defeat to West Brom.
The Toffees slumped to a shock 4-1 reverse to the Baggies last Saturday to leave them sitting just two points above the drop zone.
Fellaini insists David Moyes' side are determined to get over the reverse by gaining a positive result against Chelsea and he is confident of putting on a show against the reigning champions because of their good record against the Blues.
"All the players are still angry after losing that game at home," said Fellaini.
"We are hoping for a good performance now to bounce back. Chelsea are a big team and a dangerous team.
"But we have a good record against them and tend to play better against good teams.
"Hopefully it's the same again. We are motivated to do well against the big players."
Fellaini is available for the trip to West London after serving a three-game ban following his sending off against Bolton last month.
The Belgium international admits it has been a frustrating time for him sat on the sidelines and he believes he has learned his lesson from his latest dismissal.
"I have had a frustrating time," added Fellaini.
"I was injured then I got back training again, the manager gave me confidence, I played again and then was sent off.
"It is positive in a way because I have thought a lot about it and I know it is my mistake, my error and I will not do it again.
"I have trained hard while I have been suspended and am ready to play. The manager will decide whether I play or not but I am ready."
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Moyes desperate for trophy

Everton manager David Moyes admits he will not be remembered at the club unless he brings a trophy to Goodison Park.
The Toffees boss has been with the Merseyside outfit for more than eight years and he has overseen a period of steady progress and stability.
Their most successful campaign under the Scottish coach came in 2004/05 when Everton finished fourth in the Premier League and therefore earned the right to compete in the UEFA Champions League, although they lost out to Dinamo Bucharest in the qualifying round.
Moyes led his side to an FA Cup final last year for the first time since 1995 but they fell to Chelsea despite taking an early lead.
And he believes that while he may have overseen improvements over the years, unless a trophy appears in the cabinet he will not have achieved anything.
"I don't think I could be remembered for anything at the moment, because I haven't won anything," he said in the Daily Mirror.
"I don't have a cup in front of me. I see Howard Kendall and Joe Royle around the place and both were great managers who brought trophies to Everton.
"Hopefully the period under me has been an improvement for the club - not just the team, but the whole structure.
"I think people look at Everton and think: 'There's a good club who haven't spent a great deal of money in a difficult time.' Hopefully they say the manager has done it with a bit of humility and dignity, but what I want more than anything is to lift one of those silver things."
Moyes has had to work under a tight budget since arriving at the club from Preston in 2002 but thinks he has built a team capable of success.
He added: "I find you have to win - even at Everton, with what we've got, we have to believe we are the best, and I do.
"I want to make us the best that I can but disappointments come in football and it comes with all football clubs. We are going to have plenty because we are not quite at the top.
"I knew when I arrived there weren't going to be big finances at Everton, as the club needed a period of stability.
"We have managed to loosen the restraints a little but I have always wanted to keep the best players: 'Let me build a team, keep the best players, give them the best I can, prepare them the best I can and make them feel good.'
"We have spent a little bit, but our spending has been quite tight and relatively small compared to that of the Premier League."
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Neville backing for Beckford

Phil Neville is convinced that Jermaine Beckford will prove to be a good piece of business for Everton.
The Toffees snapped up the striker on a free transfer over the summer following his exit from Leeds United.
The 26-year-old arrived on Merseyside with a reputation as a prolific marksman in the Football League.
He has been unable to transfer that form onto the Premier League stage, though, with just one top flight goal to his name so far.
Unfortunately for Beckford, his troubles on the scoring front have seen him become a target for fan frustrations at Goodison Park.
He can, however, still count on the support of club captain Neville, as he believes it is only a matter of time before the goals start to flow for the misfiring frontman.
"The one thing I would say is that he's putting himself into that position to miss," Neville said of Beckford.
"Out of all the strikers we've got, he's the one who is consistently getting chances. That tells me that he's brave, he has an eye for goal and he's hungry to score.
"At the moment it's not quite going for him, but it works that way for strikers.
"They go on runs where they don't score, but it's pleasing that he keeps making the runs.
"He's a Premier League striker. If he wasn't creating the chances, or making the runs maybe you'd question that, but for me a striker is 99 per cent there if he's doing that.
"The extra one per cent is maybe confidence and that will come when he starts scoring. Eventually he'll click and punish someone by banging in three or four.
"All the lads are behind him. We all realise he's had a difficult start, but he has goalscoring ability and we need to back him up."
Chelsea v Everton To Score in 90mins: Beckford, J. 9/2
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Donovan opens Toffees door

Landon Donovan would welcome a return to Everton, but admits he must be wary of pushing himself too hard.
The United States international took in a successful loan stint with the Toffees last season, arriving in the New Year following the end of the MLS campaign.
The Los Angeles Galaxy forward is being strongly linked with a similar deal this term, with a switch to somewhere in Europe expected to be on the cards.
Donovan admits he would favour a second spell at Goodison Park, having thoroughly enjoyed his time in England first time around.
He does, however, concede that he must listen to his body before making any decision.
Having starred at the World Cup and helped the Galaxy into the MLS play-offs, he accepts that it may be time for him to take a rest.
"I want to go back - how could I not after last time?" Donovan said on a possible return to Everton.
"But I have to be responsible to my body.
"It is 50-50 at the moment."
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Beckham rules out Toffees move

Former England captain David Beckham has ruled out the possibility of joining Everton.
Toffees boss David Moyes has confirmed he would love to sign the LA Galaxy midfielder if the opportunity arose.
Beckham has enjoyed loan spells at Italian giants AC Milan during the MLS off-season over the past two years and a number of clubs are thought to be keen to take the 35-year-old on a similar deal.
However, Beckham insists he could not make the move to Goodison Park out of respect for former club Manchester United.
Asked if he could move to Everton, Beckham told Sky Sports News: "No, I spoke about this a few days ago when I was in Australia.
"It is always great to be wanted by different managers and different teams even if it's on loan or a more permanent spell, it's always nice.
"I have got great respect for David Moyes from playing with him at Preston.
"I think he has done an amazing job at Everton, but I am a Man United fan - it's too close to home."
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Jagielka offers no excuses

Phil Jagielka admits Everton have only themselves to blame for their ongoing troubles this season.
The Toffees have picked up just three wins in 15 Premier League outings this term and find themselves languishing towards the foot of the table.
Just two points separate them from the drop zone at present, with a five-match winless run dragging them into the relegation dogfight.
There is, of course, still plenty of time to turn things around, and the club have made a habit of recovering well over the second half of the season.
However, it is vital that results improve dramatically in the near future if they are to start climbing the standings, with the busy festive period capable of making or breaking a campaign.
Jagielka accepts that the time for excuses is over, with the England international of the opinion that Everton are a much better side than recent performances suggest.
"We are in a difficult position now and yes, that tends to bring out the best in this side, but the truth is we're getting sick and tired of us having to do that," he said.
"We're a good team and we should be doing better than this, no matter what excuses we may have.
"We know that we have played badly, but really we have got to lift ourselves quickly because we have a game against Chelsea coming up (on Saturday)."
Jagielka added: "We're devastated but we'll bounce back. We have to show character in adversity now."
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Neville calms Becks talk

Phil Neville is refusing to get carried away by the hype surrounding David Beckham's link with Everton.
Toffees boss David Moyes recently admitted that he would welcome the opportunity to bring the former England captain back to England on loan, with his commitments with MLS outfit Los Angeles Galaxy over for another season.
Beckham has taken in loan spells in Europe in each of the last two years, with Italian giants AC Milan happy to make use of his considerable experience.
An eagerly-anticipated switch to England, where he has not played on a full-time basis since leaving Manchester United in 2003, has been widely touted, with Everton mentioned as one of the sides in the running.
Club captain Neville would welcome his former United team-mate to Goodison Park with open arms but is wary of allowing such talk to spiral out of control, with Beckham yet to make any decision on his short-term future.
"Obviously you would want a player of that ilk to come to your club, but he's an LA Galaxy player and until we hear otherwise we will respect that," he told Sky Sports News.
Beckham's Galaxy colleague Landon Donovan did take in a spell with the Toffees last season, greatly impressing during his time on Merseyside.
It has been suggested he could return for a second stint, having left the door open for Moyes to make a move, but Neville insists there is no pressure on Everton to land loan stars as they already have a squad capable of competing with the Premier League elite.
"I have got total belief in the players that we have got. We have got Victor Anichebe, who came back at the weekend, who could be that type of player for us," he said on the Donovan link.
"You don't invest heavily into a squad like we have and keep a settled squad, with our biggest signing of the summer being Mikel Arteta signing again, without having belief.
"Everyone is tied up on long-term contracts so the squad and foundations are there, it's just we need to start performing as a team.
"As players we all take responsibility, there's enough quality in the dressing room, and we are not looking outside the club or outside the dressing room for excuses. The players haven't performed to the levels that we as players and the manager expects. It's time for us to step up."
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Becks - Fitness the priority

David Beckham insists that his main priority is to stay fit, despite being linked with an Everton loan spell.
Toffees boss David Moyes has confirmed he would love to sign the LA Galaxy midfielder if the opportunity arises.
But the 35-year-old former England captain, who has had loan spells with AC Milan during the American league off-season over the past two years, insists his main priority is to stay fit after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon injury in the build up to last summer's World Cup.
Beckham told Sky Sports: "I'm just trying to keep myself fit and get my fitness back from obviously the injury that I got seven months ago.
"So I'm just trying to make sure my body's in the right condition and then I'll think about it but I haven't decided anything yet."
But the veteran is determined to keep playing the sport he loves - for now.
"I'm not ready to finish playing football yet," he confirmed.
Beckham also shared his thoughts on the country's upcoming bid for the 2018 World Cup, which Fifa will vote on next week, along with the venue for the 2022 tournament.
"There's still strong competition (for 2018) as well - obviously for 2022 there's Australia and the US as well that are going for it, so two great countries that can host the biggest sporting event in the world.
"So whoever gets it, its going to be a great tournament."
Chelsea 4/11, Draw 7/2, Everton 17/2
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Cats brought back to earth

Man of the match: The gong goes to Danny Welbeck for a tireless display culminating in a fantastic brace for the Black Cats. The young striker came close to a hat-trick on several occasions as he continually shook up the Everton defence.
Miss of the match: Jermaine Beckford had only goalkeeper Craig Gordon to beat in the dying seconds of stoppage-time but somehow managed to blaze his effort over the crossbar. Absolute howler.
Clearance of the match: Michael Turner decided nothing, not even a goal post, was going to stop him clearing a Tim Cahill effort in the 55th minute. The ball looked to be inching inside the near post until the stopper fearlessly threw himself in the way, colliding with the woodwork and prompting the medics to make a brief appearance.
Goal of the match: All four goals were contenders, but Cahill snatches it after a devastatingly accurate cross from Leighton Baines was converted by the Australian's cool and clinical header.
Talking point: The Black Cats have now suffered just one defeat in 12 league games, can they compete at the top this season? Everton keep putting in the performances but missing out on the crucial points, where can they expect to finish?
Sunderland were unable to emulate their Chelsea triumph as Everton held them to a 2-2 home draw on Monday evening.
Steve Bruce's men entered the encounter fresh from their shock 3-0 victory over the Premier League leaders last weekend, but were denied another three-point haul as the Toffees produced a battling display.
An action-packed clash at the Stadium of Light saw both sides create plenty of chances, but they were ultimately forced to share the spoils as neither team could find a last-gasp winner.
The Black Cats looked on course for a win after coming from behind to lead 2-1 thanks to a superb brace from Danny Welbeck.
But Mikel Arteta secured the Toffees a crucial point as his deflected finish seven minutes from time complemented Tim Cahill's sixth-minute opener before Everton substitute Jermaine Beckford missed a glorious opportunity in the dying moments of stoppage-time.
Sunderland have now played every one of last season's top 10 and lost to none of them with only promoted West Brom and Newcastle having collected all three points against them.
In the most unpredictable of starts to the new Premier League season, there was an inevitability about how things would unfold at the Stadium of Light this evening.
The Black Cats returned to home territory still flushed by the euphoria of their stunning 3-0 win at Chelsea last time out and ready to repeat the dose.
Manager Steve Bruce had warned in his programme notes that their heroics in West London would count for little if they did not repeat them tonight, and right on cue, Cahill proved their nemesis, in the short term at least, once again.
The game was only six minutes old when the Australian managed to find enough space inside the Sunderland penalty area to meet Leighton Baines' inviting cross with a firm downward header to make the most of the full-back's neat interchange with Steven Pienaar down the left.
That link-up proved to be the main avenue to goal for the Toffees as Baines and Pienaar caused problems for opposite numbers Nedum Onuoha and Bolo Zenden.
However, the Dutchman turned the tables with 23 minutes gone to pave the way for his side's equaliser.
He skipped away from South Africa international Pienaar on the touchline and deftly manoeuvred his way past Baines to fire a low cross to the near post where Welbeck, who scored his first goal for the club at Stamford Bridge, eagerly slammed the ball home.
Kieran Richardson stabbed a 27th-minute effort just wide with his weaker right foot as Sunderland threatened to make the pressure tell.
But with Everton's left flank continuing to cause problems and Seamus Coleman starting to test Phil Bardsley on the right, the visitors gradually established a foothold once again, and they might have regained the lead 12 minutes before the break.
Cahill timed his run to perfection to meet Baines' corner and head towards goal.
Henderson blocked his effort at the near post, but the ball ran across goal and Lee Cattermole, stationed on the far post, had to scramble it away before the blue shirts could pounce with defender Sylvain Distin eventually firing high over the bar.
The visitors finished the half strongly, but Welbeck headed just over at the death as play switched swiftly from end to end.
Sunderland returned in determined mood and repeatedly put the Everton goal under threat in the opening five minutes of the second half.
Tim Howard had to get down well to keep out Welbeck's curling effort, but he needed the help of first Phil Jagielka and then Arteta to deny Cattermole and Zenden respectively.
But it was Cahill who almost did the damage once again with 55 minutes gone when he was allowed to run on to Phil Neville's ball over the top and lob the advancing Gordon.
The ball looked to be creeping inside the near post until Michael Turner launched himself into a desperate clearance which left him needing treatment.
Everton sensed an opportunity as the home side became increasingly careless in possession, they surged forward in wave after wave.
Bruce introduced Steed Malbranque as a 69th-minute replacement for Zenden, but it was Welbeck who made the breakthrough two minutes later.
Jagielka did well to get a block on Darren Bent's shot to concede a corner and when Richardson crossed at the second time of asking, the teenager looped a header over Howard and into the net.
But with time running down, Everton fought their way back into it when the unfortunate Bardsley deflected Arteta's shot past keeper Gordon.
Welbeck dragged a close-range effort wide deep into injury-time, but Beckford perhaps should have won it with virtually the last kick of the game when he ran on to Jagielka's clearance but fired wastefully over with just Gordon to beat.
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Moyes grateful for Cahill

David Moyes has praised Tim Cahill for keeping Everton in goals following their 2-2 draw at Sunderland on Monday evening.
The midfielder has now notched seven Premier League goals for the Toffees this season, crowned by a headed sixth-minute opener against the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.
In contrast, Moyes' strikers have been worryingly ineffective, with Everton leaving it to another midfielder, Mikel Arteta, to find a late equaliser on Wearside following Danny Welbeck's brace for the home side.
While pleased with some elements of his side's display against Steve Bruce's men, the Everton manager admits he is glad to have Australian Cahill in his line-up to keep finding the back of the net.
Moyes told Sky Sports HD1: "I think we've got a really good team, we're a good footballing team (although) we're certainly lacking at the top end and not (getting) enough goals at this moment in time.
"Thankfully Tim Cahill keeps getting those goals. Another really good goal tonight."
Moyes lamented Jermaine Beckford's last-gasp blunder, which saw the substitute miss a crucial opportunity to secure a win in the dying moments of stoppage-time.
"It was a great chance in the last seconds, through on goal," he said.
"You wouldn't want any more. To be fair, that's what he normally does, he normally finishes those, and it could have been three points."
The manager admits the Toffees' main problem lies in their inability to finish off their attacks.
"I thought we had the ball a lot in and around the edge of the box," he added.
"We got some crosses in, we got into some good positions, but we didn't make them pay again tonight. In the end it cost us.
"I know Sunderland had one or two chances as well, you would expect that, but overall I'm just disappointed we couldn't finish off some of our good play at times."
Despite being disappointed with the draw, which leaves Everton without a win in four games, Moyes maintains his side can challenge at the top of the table this season.
"Well at the start of the season I thought we were capable of achieving big things and I still do," he said.
"I still think we're in a position to challenge at the top end and hopefully we can try and do that."
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Toffees eye MLS ace

Seattle Sounders ace Steve Zakuani is set to train with Premier League Everton.
The MLS season has just finished, which means many of their players will take the chance to play or train in Europe over the winter.
Zakuani is one of those, and he has been invited to spend time with the Toffees.
The 22-year-old began his career with Arsenal before being released and he then opted to move to America - where he has become one of the brightest prospects in MLS.
He has recently turned down the chance to represent USA, instead opting for the country of his birth DR Congo, who his brother Gabriel, of Peterborough United, also plays for.
Zakuani, who grew up in London, is now looking forward to returning to Britain and joining up with Everton.
"As for my off season plans, I plan to spend a few days in London visiting old friends and family before going up to Liverpool to train with Everton for a few days," he revealed to the Sounders' official website.
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Bent staying grounded

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Darren Bent feels Sunderland are capable of pushing for a top-six finish, provided they remain focused.
The Black Cats have clambered into the European places on the back of a consistent start to the 2010/11 campaign.
They may have been mauled 5-1 by local rivals Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby, but that defeat is one of just two they have suffered this season.
That is less than Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, suggesting Steve Bruce has moulded Sunderland into a resolute outfit.
A 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge last weekend proved they need to be taken seriously, with that success helping to lift the North East club into sixth place in the Premier League table.
Bent was unavailable for the Chelsea game as he continued to nurse a hamstring problem, but is closing in on full fitness again and could be back for Monday's meeting with Everton.
The England international is hoping to help fire the Black Cats into continental competition, but admits it is important that the club do not get ideas above their station too early in the season.
"We aren't going to get carried away," he told Sky Sports News.
"I'm sure people will start saying that we should be aiming for Europe. We are just taking things one game at a time and if we can get in a position to do that at the end of the season, we will be delighted."
The busy festive period can often make or break a season and Bent admits Sunderland's European ambitions could rest their ability to make it into the New Year unscathed.
"Especially after the start we have had, we have had some tough games in this first period," he added.
"This is the period that we let ourselves down last season but if we can get ourselves out of it, I'm sure we will be fine."
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Moyes - No one is safe

Everton tactician David Moyes insists not even he feels safe in his managerial position at Goodison Park.
The club's long-serving Scottish tactician has been at the helm since 2002 and has been credited with reviving the Merseysiders.
Many feel Moyes has one of the most secure jobs in the business, but the 47-year-old says he is not resting on his laurels.
The former Preston boss knows that the minute he takes his foot off the accelerator then he could be next in line for the chop.
"In football management, every day you come into work your job is not secure," he said.
"I feel that if I don't work hard every week I could be in jeopardy myself.
"In horse racing terms, I have to be out of the saddle all the time, whip ready. I don't think at Everton we are ever able to canter.
"We always have to stand up in the saddle and go for it."
Meanwhile, Moyes admits Everton's meagre output in front of a goal is a concern and that he is mulling over ways to increase their goals tally.
The Scot has even joked that the team may revert to a long-ball style of play in order to create more chances for their strikers.
"I might go and start crashing the ball into the box, do it that way," Moyes said.
"It doesn't really matter what you do between the boxes - it is what happens in the boxes.
"Obviously people want to see a brand of football which they think is the right way to do things, and over the years in England there has been a lot of criticism of the long ball.
"But at the end of the day, if you get the ball in the box and knock it down and score goals, then it wins you games.
"At the moment our football is great up to the box but we can't seem to alternate our play.
"In the past we have had people like Duncan Ferguson who we could maybe have brought on and done something.
"So we are a bit limited in what we have got in that respect. We have to keep crafting and passing and finding a way of scoring."
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Wenger hopeful on duo

Arsene Wenger is optimistic that Kieran Gibbs and Abou Diaby will soon be back in contention.
Gibbs has had a short spell out with a knee problem but is recovering well and could be available for Arsenal's clash with Everton on Sunday.
Wenger has no new injury worries following the 2-0 victory away to Wolves in midweek that lifted the Gunners back to within one point of second-placed Manchester United.
"We should not have any bad news from last night. The squad should be the same," the manager told Arsenal TV Online.
"We could have Gibbs available to be part of it again too. We'll make the decision at the end of the week.
"He is back in normal training. It is just whether he is fit or not."
Diaby has been sidelined since picking up an ankle knock in the game against Bolton and Wenger recently admitted he did not know when the midfielder might be able to return.
But Wenger has been encouraged by his recent progress and hopes there are no further setbacks.
"He is having a gradual test," said Wenger. "He had the first yesterday - that was positive.
"He has another today so we'll see what comes out of it. At the moment the response is good."
Wenger is set to freshen up his starting XI at Goodison Park, given the amount of games his squad have played recently in both domestic and European competition.
"There are always one or two changes," he said. "Some players have played a lot and we have some fresh, quality players on the bench.
"Some are not completely match-fit like (Robin) Van Persie and (Nicklas) Bendtner but in midfield there may be one or two changes."
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Moyes hails brilliant Beckford

Everton manager David Moyes praised super-sub Jermaine Beckford following his dramatic stoppage-time equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Bolton.
The Toffees were destined for their first defeat in seven Premier League games when the former Leeds striker fired over Jussi Jaaskelainen deep into injury-time at Goodison Park.
Ivan Klasnic had come off the bench to give Bolton the lead and worse followed as Marouane Fellaini was sent off for kicking Paul Robinson.
The hosts had squandered a number of chances to take the lead, many of them through the returning Louis Saha, as Moyes' complaints about a lack of goals again rang true.
The Toffees boss told Sky Sports: "When the goal came for them, I wouldn't say it was inevitable but people were probably thinking you can't have this much of the game in and around the box as often as we had and not score a goal without being punished and that was the way it was."
However, the Scot was quick to salute his summer signing who scored his first Premier League goal for the Toffees, admitting he should have held him back earlier in the season.
He continued: "Well, my hope was that he would come off the bench and score goals and make his mark through that way in the Premier League.
"But I put him in earlier than I should have done. It was my fault, I shouldn't have put him in right away, but we needed it at the start of the season.
"I should have held back and held him for the role I gave him today and I think that would always be the best way to introduce him."


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Blues pair enjoy fitness boost

Jack Rodwell and Victor Anichebe have moved a step closer to returning to first-team action with a run-out for Everton's reserves.
The Blues pair featured in a 5-0 win over Blackpool on Wednesday afternoon, which saw Jose Baxter score twice while Jermaine Beckford, Magaye Gueye and substitute Hope Akpan also got on the scoresheet.
Midfielder Rodwell played over an hour as he continues to recover from ankle ligament damage he suffered against Aston Villa at the end of August while striker Anichebe had a 20-minute cameo having not played since the final game of last season due to a knee problem.
Louis Saha has returned to full fitness in recent weeks and reserve team boss Alan Stubbs feels it is a big boost for first-team manager David Moyes to have Rodwell and Anichebe almost back in contention as it would leave Marouane Fellaini as his only remaining major absentee.
"I think it's getting towards the manager being able to pick from a full-strength squad again," Stubbs told the club's official website.
"Jack's got 65 minutes under his belt, Becks has got 70, Victor 20 and Gueye a full 90, so everyone is looking like they are coming back and that's good news for the manager."
Beckford has so far scored just one goal since joining on a free transfer from Leeds in the summer - against Huddersfield in the Carling Cup.
But he was a threat throughout before enjoying a morale boost with a well-taken strike midway through the second half.
Stubbs was urging the 26-year-old striker to play in the same style that saw him score 85 goals in 141 games for Leeds over the last three seasons.
"We wanted him to play on the defender's shoulder," he said. "A lot of his goals at Leeds came from him running on to things. Defenders don't like it when you play just on the shoulder.
"On another day he could have had three or four. But he scored and hopefully he'll take confidence from that because he admitted he was probably a bit rusty."

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Toffees deny Abdullayev deal

Everton deny that a deal has been completed to sign Azerbaijan midfielder Araz Abdullayev, despite the youngster already claiming an agreement had been made.
The Toffees have had the first option on the 18-year-old since July, which allows them to sign him should a work permit be granted.
Abdullayev told current club Neftchi Baku's official website this week of his 'pride' and 'joy' at the move.
However, an Everton spokesman told the Liverpool Echo: "We still have first refusal but there has been no decision yet on whether to exercise that option."
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Neftchi said: "Officials from the English club will visit Baku soon and the contract will be signed here in our capital."
Two players who may be temporarily making their way out of Goodison Park on loan are Shane Duffy and Jose Baxter.
The duo remain highly rated by manager David Moyes but the 18-year-olds could be allowed to leave to get some first-team experience under their belt.
Defender Duffy is close to full fitness after suffering a freak life-threatening injury back in May, while midfielder Baxter has reportedly caught the eye of Championship side Scunthorpe.
On Duffy, Moyes said: "I'd like to put Shane out on loan. We've been keeping an eye on him at first (since his injury) and keeping him indoors.
"He's very good in the air though, and could have come on against Crouch (at White Hart Lane). If we find the right club he could go on loan."
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Duo close on Toffees return

Everton duo Jack Rodwell and Victor Anichebe are making their return from injuries for the reserves on Wednesday.
Highly-rated midfielder Rodwell has been out of action since the end of August after picking up an ankle problem in the defeat to Aston Villa.
Striker Anichebe has been missing since the final match of last season because of a knee injury but has been named as a substitute for the second string.
The pair will feature against Blackpool at Finch Farm as they look to build up their fitness.
Toffees boss David Moyes will be hoping the duo come through unscathed so that they can be available to his first-team squad soon.
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