Ready For Battle

Ashley Williams may have been doing his bit to spread some early festive cheer both on and off the pitch. However, the Derby debutant knows it will all count for little unless the Blues deliver once again tonight…

- Adam Clark

Tonight may be Ashley Williams’ first Merseyside derby but, fear not, he’s been well briefed. 

“It’s the thing people have spoken to me about most, starting from the day I signed really,” he says. “It was always a game I looked forward to when I was at Swansea but obviously it means a little bit more now to play against them for Everton.

“It will be nice to play my first Merseyside derby at home and I’m looking forward to the test.

“This will probably be our toughest challenge yet this season but it’s one we’re ready to stand up to. We’re going to need warriors on the night.”

Thanks to Williams, the Blues head into the 227th meeting of the two sides with a surfeit of confidence.

Against Arsenal last Tuesday night, the warrior-like qualities of Ronald Koeman’s unit came to the fore to end an unwelcome run that had brought just one win in 10 league games.

Coleman surged (and leapt), Lennon darted, Valencia ran himself into the ground, McCarthy marshalled and Gana guarded. But when the moment arrived, it was Williams who timed his jump to perfection to steer a bullet header past Petr Cech and secure a precious victory on yet another magical night under the Goodison Park floodlights.

“I was obviously disappointed for their goal so it was nice to make up for that in the end, a bit of redemption,” he said afterwards. “I should have done better on Arsenal’s goal, I was disappointed and I was just desperate to get one up the other end.

“Luckily enough I was able to do that and we won the game.”