Defeat tomorrow won’t be end of world for Everton

May 4 2007 by Mark Lawrenson, Liverpool Daily Post

I KEEP hearing that tomorrow’s visit of Portsmouth is a must-win for Everton in their attempts to qualify for Europe.

I don’t necessarily agree.

Victory would, of course, be fantastic and Everton have to go for it in their last home game of the campaign.

But if they don’t do it, don’t despair.

A lot of Evertonians seem to be writing off their last game of the season at Chelsea, almost as if to say, ‘well we have to win on Saturday because it’s our last chance to get any points on the board’.

Nonsense.

There’s no way they should under-estimate their ability to get something at Stamford Bridge next week.

That’s why Liverpool’s victory over Jose Mourinho’s men in the Champions League semi-final could be the best thing that happens to Everton’s season.

And that will only get even better if Manchester United have already wrapped up the title by the time Everton head for the capital. Because this will mean that Mourinho’s only hope of any more silverware this season is the FA Cup.

With the final just a week away and nothing to play for against Everton, he will rest players and even those who will be in the final will be taking it easy trying not to get injured and blow their chances of playing in the final with the new Wembley beckoning.

So Everton winning at Chelsea really isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

However, they will have to do their bit.

On Saturday I saw Bill Kenwright at the BBC after they had played Manchester United and he said they were brilliant for an hour.

I told him that you’ve got to be brilliant for the full 90 minutes against the top sides.

If they can find that extra half-hour at Chelsea then Europe is still awaiting even if tomorrow doesn’t go to plan.

• Mark Lawrenson was talking to NICK SMITH