McCarthy determined to make amends

James McCarthy has spoke of a determination to “make amends” when Everton visit Anfield this weekend.

Speaking to The Telegraph, McCarthy admitted he and his team mates let fans down with their performance at Anfield last season, and want to put it right.

McCarthy: “They are our arch rivals so to go down 4-0 to them sticks with you and makes you determined to make amends. That’s what we want to happen this weekend.

“We were up there fighting at the time we played them and it was frustrating what happened. We know it was not acceptable and not good enough.

“Not to make excuses, but we did have a couple of injuries, and players like Ross [Barkley] coming back from injury, but it was a bad, bad night all round, for the players and the fans.

“We felt we let the club and each and every one of the fans down and we want to put that right.

“We went there to go for it and got caught out a couple of times, first from set pieces and then especially on the counter-attack.

“When you go to Anfield you want to play. You want to go there and play football the way it should be played. There is no way we would go there, sit in and play for a draw. We’ll do the same again at the weekend. We will be trying to beat them.

“It’s a big game for them as well, but we want to get back to winning and there is no better way of doing that or game to do it. I’m sure the manager will have his plan but it is not his way to go there and defend. We will always set up to win.

“It was a massive shock to me to hear it was 15 years since the last Anfield win, especially with the tradition of this club and history of the fixture. I was surprised when I saw it was so long, but at the same time it means there is no better time to win there.

“We have the squad to do it. I remember last season people were saying how long it was since we had won at Old Trafford, and there was another record people were mentioning about how long it was since we’d won away at one of the top four teams. Many of us were just new to the club so we just looked at it and thought we’d end those kind of records. That’s still how we look at it whether it’s in the Premier League or Europe.

“The players we’ve brought in here are top quality and there is a good vibe around the place, despite some of the results we’ve had.

“It’s getting worse in terms of how quick people make judgments. We’re five games into the season and we’re disappointed to have lost the last couple of games, but there is so long to go. Look at what both teams did last season with most of the same players. Everyone thought Liverpool were going to win the league until the last few games, and we were pushing for the Champions League for the whole season because we have a quality side here. That was over the course of a whole season this group of players was up there, not just a few games. These seasons are hard and you will get setbacks along the way, but just as you don’t look too far ahead when you’ve had a good win it should be the same after you’ve lost. We’re a strong unit with great players

“Of course this is a massive game. You want to win at your rivals, especially as we have not won there in so many years, but I would say there is even more pressure on them being at home with all the money they have spent and players they have brought in.”