Everton’s Conor Coady reveals putting ball in Liverpool net was one of best feelings of his career

Everton borrower Conor Coady loves life at his new club and plies his trade for the ‘great’ support at Goodison Park.

The 29-year-old may be a lifelong Red and a Liverpool FC academy graduate with two senior appearances to his name, but he’s more than happy to embrace the blue half of the city now.

In fact, Coady finds it odd that anyone would question his desire to play for the Toffees, despite his connection to their rivals. He insists he didn’t hesitate when he signed for the big old team or celebrate enthusiastically when he thought he’d nicked a winner in the Merseyside derby.

Not for him, the ‘no-celebration’ party when he drove off ecstatic and wide-eyed after tapping home after 70 minutes, albeit because the ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside following a VAR check.

In fact, the bright Coady considers it an honor to represent Everton, he is grateful for the opportunity and is determined to give his all for the club.

‘A lot of people ask me about scoring against Liverpool’ [including this reporter] and to be honest, I think it’s a stupid question,” Coady told Sports post.

“I’ve been playing football for a long time now and the one thing I give every club I play for is everything, every day of my life. I will push that club and try to make the people around me better.”

Nobody in football would argue about that. The St Helens-born centre-back was a surprise transfer this summer when Wolves boss Bruno Lage had him leave Molineux, where he had provided outstanding service for seven years.

At the time it was rumored that Lage Coady was not in fourth place, although it appears to have been no problem for the England international at Goodison Park.

Coady’s return to Merseyside raised eyebrows, not least because he has done so well at Wolves, with 317 appearances, but also because the destination was Goodison Park.

However, the player himself was overjoyed with the deal and he is making the most of it. His contributions have also not gone unnoticed by Evertonians, who clearly appreciate their new recruit, who has contributed to greater stability in the Toffees defence.

They will also appreciate Coady’s humility and passion to succeed and better himself and everyone around him.

“I’m lucky enough to get the chance to play for Everton Football Club and when that opportunity came along I didn’t want to let it go,” he said.

“When I entered that club, it was about paying back everything they asked of me and giving me the chance to go there.”

Coady’s response to the ‘target’ in the Merseyside derby stems from the work he and the team are doing to improve performance.

“I know how big the Merseyside derbies are, I grew up with them, I know what they are about, I know how big they are for Everton Football Club and we talked about it before that game. It’s a huge game for Evertonians, a huge game for the manager and the players.

‘So to have that feeling at that moment’ [when the ball hit the back of the net]Considering it was taken away, it was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in football, to be honest. I give everything for that club every day.’

No wonder manager Frank Lampard loves him. The former Chelsea boss has spoken glowingly about Coady’s influence not just on the pitch but all over the club, helping others focus on their task of winning.

Lampard awarded Coady the captain’s armband for the home game against West Ham United when club skipper Jordan Pickford was sidelined with an injury. It’s unusual to give credit to a loaner, but it just underlines how Coady took his chance at Goodison Park and the impact he made.

‘[It was] an easy decision because he is a great boy, he has a great attitude and he is a great communicator and he has added so much to the dressing room,” Lampard said after the game.

Mind you, Coady has a lot of experience. He had the bracelet with Wolves for four years.

Though vocal, Coady’s approach is not critical of teammates. At games without fans during the Covid pandemic, he heard booming instructions, organizing, flattering cheering on his teammates.

And at Everton, Coady has found the perfect partner in James Tarkowski. The former Burnley defender has a similarly positive attitude towards the game and colleagues. He is also good on the ball and tough in the tackle, attributes which Coady greatly appreciates.

The pair have been praised by Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer.

‘They are at least seven or eight out of ten every week. They are reliable, you know what you are getting and [opponents] will have to play well to get anything.

‘Those two middle halves are very experienced. Very vocal. If one of them makes a mistake [the other] has his back,” the BBC told me.

There is indeed a bromance blossoming at the heart of Everton’s defence.

“He’s a fantastic player,” Coady said when asked about the secret to their impressive partnership.

Everton have scored just six goals in the Premier League this season, just one more than the most miserable defense in Brighton, who conceded five. Not just that for the first time since May 2021 they have recorded consecutive zeros on the top flight, which is a statistic they will hope to build on when they travel to Southampton on October 1.

They may have tried their luck a few times, but Coady and Tarkowski never panic.

“He’s someone I’ve known in football all my time,” explains Coady. ‘We are similar in age; I played a lot with him when he was at Burnley

“Before I went to Everton I knew how good a defender was, but I also learned what a fantastic person he is, someone who is excellent for the dressing room and the club.

“He’s a real pleasure to be around. I enjoy playing with him and spending time with him every day. He is also a fantastic footballer. We keep pushing each other as much as possible.

The dynamics of any football team, any team, are complex, but it seems clear that this pair has a very positive impact on the full backs of Everton, Vitaliy Mykolenko, 23, and the young Nathan Patterson, 20, who excels in particular.

A moment in the hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham United epitomized their influence. Patterson and another young player, Anthony Gordon, stopped a cross together and immediately and in unison Coady and Tarkowski had their hands above their heads loudly applauding and appreciating the youngsters’ efforts. That must feel good.

As Shearer pointed out on MOTD, the pair compliment each other. The stats reveal Tarkowski is all about action, the more likely to get to the ball, taking 47 tackles, interceptions and blocks to Coady’s 16 this season, but the latter is always on the cover, always vigilant for the unseen danger, and it works.

“We’re not going to sit down and say you’ll do this and I’ll do that, I think we’re playing to our strengths… and we’re helping each other at the same time,” Coady explained.

Everton fans have had little choice in recent seasons, but they have never lost appreciation for a player who is willing to give anything for the cause, and they have it in Coady.

For his part, he enjoys the experience immensely.

“It’s amazing,” Coady admitted. “I’ve played at Goodison Park many times over the years and I knew how difficult it can be to get there and it’s important that we use Goodison Park and use the support to our advantage.

‘The atmosphere around Goodison in recent weeks makes it so difficult for the opponent. We all know how passionate Evertonians are.”

And Cody too. They are a good match.