The centre back has called on his teammates to find another statement win in Sunday's Merseyside derby
James Tarkowski applauds the fans prior to the Premier League match between Brentford and Everton at Gtech Community Stadium. Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
James Tarkowski applauds the fans prior to the Premier League match between Brentford and Everton at Gtech Community Stadium. Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
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James Tarkowski believes Everton may be just two ‘special days’ from qualifying for Europe - and challenged his teammates to make the first one against Liverpool.
The centre back thinks the Blues are well-placed to push for Europe but that some big results will be required to get the club over the line across the final six games of the season.
There are several challenging ties - including the visits of Liverpool and title-chasing Manchester City to Hill Dickinson Stadium in the coming weeks. But having demolished Champions League-chasing Chelsea in their last home game, Everton know they are capable of statement performances.
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For Tarkowski, more must follow - but he was pleased with the point earned at Brentford on Saturday. He said: “I think we'll take the point. This is a tough place to come. They’re a team level on points with us, so it's good that we didn't let them get away from us in that sense. So we'll take the point, considering we didn't play great.”
Everton sit in eighth place, behind Brentford on goal difference and within two points of sixth-placed Chelsea following the draw at the Gtech. A strong chasing pack has closed behind the Blues but with the league so tight and with so many rivals in the battle for Europe still to play each other, a handful of big performances could prove crucial.
Tarkowski told Everton club media: “The league is so tight, it's ever so tight. There's a lot of teams chasing these positions now, so it's on us. I've said we need probably two or three special days to get where we want to go, so hopefully we can start that next weekend against Liverpool because that's what's going to get us where we want to be.
“We're in a good position. We had a massive win at home not so long ago. The break probably didn't come at a great time for us really, but it's one of those things and now we can get back to our home after such a massive win there last time and hopefully go again.”
A win in the first derby on the Liverpool waterfront would be a major step towards Everton breaking into Europe. That would be some achievement given the plight of a club that has been fighting relegation across recent seasons.
Everton will head into the derby with momentum given the manner in which they snatched the point from Brentford, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall equalising in stoppage time.
For Tarkowski, it was never in doubt. He said: “We've done it a few times this season already, scoring some late goals: Brighton away, quite late at Fulham, so we've done it a few times. And I thought we were going to score, to be honest. The way we were playing last 10 minutes, the game got a bit open, but that was giving us opportunities to score.
“I thought Tyrique George came on and caused the full-back a lot of problems, which was good for us. The ball dropped to Kiernan, who is probably the one person we wanted it to drop to because he's been so reliable this year. He's been brilliant for us this season. He's scored some massive goals for us, but he's just so reliable, so consistent. I'm glad it fell to him because I fancied him to put it away.”