Everton face Man City 'free hit' truth as Frank Lampard waits on Goodison Park gear shift

Back to Goodison Park, back to square one in a lot of ways.

Each of Frank Lampard's matches at his new home have felt like big occasions even before the players have set foot on the grass, given what has come beforehand.

You don't need me to go over old ground from the previous months of the campaign, but let's just remember that Everton were in a pretty dire position before the new manager was appointed.

So, the fact that they still have those worries hanging around like a lumbering albatross around the neck shouldn't really be a surprise to many.

It's certainly not to Lampard himself, who's under no illusions of the task he inherited when agreeing to take over at the Blues. He's reiterated that same point time and again, even after recent disappointing defeats.

Treading the line between being realistic and being defeatist in these scenarios is sometimes a very thin tightrope.

And that brings us neatly to Manchester City.

They have been in imperious form throughout much of the season. Well, for much of the last few years if we're honest.

They might have lost last time out, but effectively that just makes them a wounded animal. Pep Guardiola's side do not lose two matches in a row.

But they could, it shouldn't be out of the question.

Evertonians on social media in recent days have had to put up with pundits and fans from other clubs making their minds up for them heading into this weekend.

One particular tweet from Sky Sports read: "Everton could do their Merseyside neighbours Liverpool a huge favour if they're able to take points off Manchester City this weekend..."

They could also, of course, do themselves a massive favour - and that's all any Blues supporters really care about.

This is a real scrap at the bottom of