Ten Hag: We have the E factor!

Ten Hag wants his players to be primed from the first whistle, encouraging them to play with passion and high intensity at Goodison Park. 

The Reds take on a Toffees team that are unbeaten in their last six Premier League outings (19:00 BST), in a rare late-Sunday kick-off, and Erik believes we need to be at our best to get a good result. 

In an exclusive Q&A ahead of the game, the boss talks warm-weather training in Cyprus, preparing for Frank Lampard's side and getting the most out of October's busy schedule. 

Erik, we're still in Cyprus and the lads have trained today (Friday). Talk to us about the benefits of not rushing home...
"It's better for the recovery. In between games it is about sleep, food, rest - so here we have had the maximum rest, good food, we're still enjoying the sun, we have the 'E' factor, the energy factor, so it will help us to load energy for the next game." 

It's a quick turnaround to the Premier League now with Everton. Is there anything to report from Thursday night or has the squad come through all OK?
"As far as I can see, everyone is OK. So we will return [home] and then we have a day off until the next afternoon, and then we will be in and prepare for the Everton game."

After our win against Omonia Nicosia, it's all about building momentum now and focusing on the good things that we created so far, and hopefully some more on Sunday... 
"It's not 'hope', we have to do it. We have to first create a plan, and then extend it with desire, passion and high intensity and we have to be ready for kick-off on Sunday, and from the first minute, be in the game." 

Goodison Park is always a tough place to go, but what are your thoughts on the opposition? 
"A real, proper opponent. They are unbeaten over the last six games so it's a tough opponent. [They have] good organisation, they are playing with passion, so I like them. We have to be good, we have to be at our best to get the right result: that is a win." 

They've got some strong players there, they've got [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin, [Conor] Coady, so they are going to make it tough for us, and they've got a great calibre of squad haven't they?
"They have good players, they have a good team, they have a good manager, so we have to be prepared. We have to be ready to start the game well and get the right result." 

Everton is the next fixture of a busy schedule, however it is an opportunity to go and grab as many points as possible so it could be a really positive month or so for us... 
"You have to see it like this [positively] and face it like this, it is an opportunity to collect many points. We are playing in three [competitions] in this [next] month, and we have to go from game to game learning the lessons every time. Learn from it, move on, carry on and be prepared for the next game."