Frank Lampard will be in charge of Everton for their FA Cup third-round tie at Manchester United on Friday amid doubts over his long-term future at Goodison Park.
The Everton manager is under intense pressure after a run of eight defeats in 11 games in all competitions and one win in 10 Premier League games.
After the latest, a crushing 4-1 home defeat to Brighton on Tuesday, Lampard said a decision on his future was out of his control with Everton a point and a place above the zone of descent They dropped to the bottom three after Wednesday night’s results.
Lampard arrived at Everton’s Finch Farm training complex on Wednesday morning and had a warm-up training session as planned in the afternoon. Their press conference ahead of the FA Cup tie will also take place on Thursday as planned.
The 44-year-old held talks with director of football Kevin Thelwell and chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale at Finch Farm, although this was part of a pre-planned visit by the pair and is the owner of the club. Farhad Moshiri, who will finally decide whether to seek the eighth permanent manager of his chaotic tenure.
Lampard is well aware that he needs a reaction at Old Trafford and, to avoid a repeat of the heavy defeat against Brighton, buy time before two critical league games against fellow strugglers Southampton and West Ham.
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There is an acceptance at Everton that the squad’s forward options need to be improved this month, with Richarlison sold in the summer, Dominic Calvert-Lewin restricted to six starts this season through injury and new signings Neal Maupay and Dwight McNeil have no effect.
The dreadful run of results, however, which culminated with fans on the board and their own players at Goodison on Tuesday, has cast doubt on how much longer Lampard will have to work with new signings with Everton in another relegation battle .