Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin insists the Goodison Park atmosphere will be 'more electric' than ever for the visit of Manchester United on Sunday following their points deduction.
Sean Dyche's side were plunged into the relegation zone during the international break after being docked 10 points for breaching profit and sustainability rules. It is the most severe Premier League punishment ever and leaves the Toffees in 19th, level on points with bottom-placed Sheffield United.
The feeling among Everton supporters is that the punishment handed to them was highly unjust and there are plans to protest before and during Sunday's game against United. Calvert-Lewin is enjoying a purple patch of form and insists he and his teammates have been unified by the deduction.
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“I’ve played in a lot of games against United at Goodison, and the atmosphere is always incredible," Calvert-Lewin told Everton's official website. “I expect the weekend to be no different – if not, more electric.
"I’m sure the fans will be ready. Us as players, we’ll prepare the same as normal and make sure we’re ready to put in a performance and collect the three points.
“I think, given the circumstances, I’ve sensed a lot of unity and togetherness. We were off on the international break when the news broke, but coming back in this week, I don’t feel like it’s fazed us players.
“We know, as a group, we can’t affect that. All we can affect is what’s in front of us, and that’s the game on Sunday, so we’re looking forward to that.”
It says much of Everton's recent form that many still expect them to survive comfortably despite the 10-point deduction. Dyche's side were in 14th before the international break, having won three of their last five matches.
Calvert-Lewin's consistent fitness has been a major factor in that improvement and the Everton striker insists confidence remains high going into Sunday's clash.
“Confidence is as high as it can be, and as high as it should be,” he added. “Within those games, we’ve ground out a couple of results, but we’ve also won convincingly in some of them.
“We’re taking the momentum into this weekend, and not letting the external things that we can’t really affect have an impact on us in the camp. We have to focus on how we have been winning games and how we have been playing well. The weekend should be no different.”
