Frank Lampard says schedule could harm Everton’s survival prospects

Frank Lampard has criticised a Premier League fixture schedule that he claims complicates Everton’s survival prospects with an early kick‑off against Manchester United on Saturday.

Everton visit Burnley on Wednesday in a game of huge significance to each team’s prospects of avoiding relegation. They then host United at 12.30pm on Saturday, at the request of broadcasters, and Lampard believes the arrangement is both unnecessary and an unfair burden on his team at a critical stage of the season.

The Everton manager, whose team have not won away in the Premier League since August, said: “We have been asked to play three games from Sunday to Wednesday to Saturday morning. It is an incredible schedule really. We have the short straw this week.

“It is definitely a disadvantage. Whether it plays out on the pitch we have to contest against that, but I think the turnaround, especially to Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime after playing Burnley on the Wednesday night, will be a tough one. We will do everything we can to recover. We are fortunate we have a great staff, a great medical team, and a squad to choose from.

“I know I am mentioning it and I think it is right to. It could have been different. For the brand of the Premier League, who want the best football, to put the game on Wednesday evening and one on Saturday morning when the stakes are so high, there is no need for it. We don’t play again after Manchester United until the following Wednesday so there was plenty of scope for this one to look different and it doesn’t so that is frustrating. We just have to counteract it with everything we can.”

Lampard’s problems exceed Everton’s schedule. Michael Keane and Allan are both suspended for Wednesday’s game, with the