TIm Howard Makes Rapid Exit

Tim Howard will join Colorado Rapids at the end of the Premier League season in a deal thought to be worth around £415,000, bringing to an end his 10-year spell at Everton.

The goalkeeper has found himself out of favour in recent months, with the manager, Roberto Martínez, preferring Joel Robles in goal, and has chosen to return to the US rather than see out the remaining year of his contract. “I will remain an Evertonian for life,” Howard said. “This will always be my team, my club. I sacrificed so much to play the amount of games I have over a 10-year period, so I will continue to support this club that I love.

“The club is amazing, I love it and I will always be an Everton player. I have been at Everton 10 years and it’s been a brilliant 10 years. I spoke to my family, I spoke to Roberto and I spoke to the chairman, Bill Kenwright. We had really great discussions and we all felt this was the right move and the right time.

“They supported my decision, they have always been 100% committed to me and they appreciated the fact that it’s time for me to go back home and play my football. There are a few more months left which I am excited about because I realise it’s now coming to an end, so I will get my head down and enjoy the remaining time.”

Espnfc.com reported that the American has signed a three-year contract with the Rapids, where it is said he will earn around £1.7m per year.

“I will miss [Everton] a lot,” Howard added. “This is home. I grew up here. To stay 10 years in any place is a long time and this has become without doubt my family. You see the same faces every day and you have respect for them, you have love for them and a great working relationship. And because this is home, of course I will miss it, but I’m excited about my move to Colorado Rapids and continuing my career with them.”

The 37-year-old started his career in the MLS with North Jersey Imperials and then MetroStars before moving to Manchester United in 2003 for around £2.3m. He made a loan move to Everton permanent in 2007 and was a key part of several successful seasons under the management of David Moyes.

“Tim is such an incredible character,” Martínez said. “With certain players, their contribution goes a little bit further than starting in the team or not and Tim is probably the perfect case of that. He is such an influence on the young players. We had a really good group of young players coming through in the last three years and Tim has been a vital player in helping those players feel Everton and to understand what it takes to play in the team.

“In a pure goalkeeping sense his level three seasons ago when we reached the club record Premier League points tally was one of the best seasons we have had,” Martínez added. “From that point on, Tim has always helped Joel Robles and he has introduced him to what it takes to play for Everton.”

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Howard Kendall 1946 - 2015

Former Everton manager Howard Kendall has died at the age of 69.

Kendall played for the Toffees and managed them on three occasions, with his first spell in charge being the most successful in the club's history.

He led the side to two First Division titles, as well as an FA Cup triumph and European Cup Winners' Cup win.

In a managerial career of more than 700 games, Kendall also took charge of Blackburn, Manchester City, Notts County and Sheffield United.

Born in County Durham, Kendall played over 100 times for his first club Preston North End, becoming the youngest player to play in a Wembley FA Cup final aged 17 years and 345 days in 1964.

He joined Everton in 1967, losing another FA Cup final in 1968, before the Toffees won the First Division title two seasons later.

He made more than 200 appearances for the club, who described him as "one of the greatest players to pull on the Everton jersey". He also played for Birmingham, Stoke and Blackburn.

Kendall's first managerial job was at Ewood Park, before moving to Everton in 1981.

He led the Merseyside club to the league title in 1985 and 1987, plus FA Cup victory in 1984. The club also won the European Cup Winners' Cup the following season.

"Everton won't be the same without Howard," former Toffees midfielder Peter Reid told BBC Radio 5 live.

"His dressing room was lively, when you were winning and even more when you were losing.

"A great person. Very astute and a great man-manager, and just a fantastic man. I'm devastated - he was my friend as well as my boss."

Former Everton and England striker Gary Lineker said: "Brilliantly managed the best club side I ever played for at Everton. Great bloke."

After Everton, Kendall went to Spain to manage Athletic Bilbao, before returning to England at Manchester City, followed by his second stint at Goodison Park.

He had short spells at Notts County and Sheffield United, before his final time at Everton between 1997 and 1998, his last managerial job.

In a statement, Everton said Kendall passed away in hospital in Southport, surrounded by loved ones.

Shadow Home Secretary, MP for Leigh and Everton fan Andy Burnham: "Struggling with awful news that the finest manager in our history, the great Howard Kendall, has passed on. Thanks for the memories, Howard."

Former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall: "A great manager an even greater man. What ever I did was solely down to him. Gentleman, friend, mentor. Will miss him. Gutted."

Former Everton midfielder Kevin Sheedy: "So privileged to have played for Everton's most successful manager. Absolutely devastated at this sad news. RIP boss."

Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher: "RIP Howard Kendall the greatest Everton manager there has been. He gave me some of my best football memories especially in the 84/85 season."

Former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish: "Very, very sad news about Howard Kendall. Total respect for him as a player manager and person. Fantastic character. Be sadly missed. A legend."

Former Manchester City player Paul Lake: "A sad day. Howard Kendall was a hugely intelligent and inspirational man who had a knack of bringing people together. He'll be sorely missed."

"Howard Kendall's greatness stretched across Everton's generations - as part of the midfield 'Holy Trinity' with Alan Ball and Colin Harvey in the 1969/70 title-winning side to his status as the club's most successful manager," said BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty.

"Kendall presided over a remarkable transformation in Everton's fortunes, taking a club on its knees at the end of 1983 to the finest in Europe only 18 months later after winning the FA Cup in 1984 and the title and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1985.

"He was admired by both Everton and Liverpool fans alike as a man who lived life to the full and the emotions on show at Goodison Park on Saturday will be testimony to his stature."

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Everton v Liverpool - Preview

Mersey side pride and a place in the FA Cup final will be at stake when Liverpool and Everton rekindle their fierce rivalry at Wembley Stadium.

A semi-final showdown at the home of English football appears to have all the makings of a cup classic, with derby tensions adding extra spice to what is always a special occasion.

The decision to host the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley has been questioned by many, but fixtures such as this deserve the grandest of stages.

Both sides will make the journey to the capital on Saturday buoyed by successful showings in their last Premier League outings.

Liverpool finally got back to winning ways at Blackburn on Tuesday and took the opportunity at Ewood Park to rest key men, meaning they have fresh legs to call upon.

Everton swept aside Sunderland, the side they saw off in the quarter-finals of the cup, at Goodison Park and are now unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions.

League form tends to go out of the window in knockout football, though, and the fact that local bragging rights have been added to the mix means anything is possible this weekend.

Liverpool and Everton do have previous when it comes to FA Cup meetings, and contests at Wembley.

The Toffees have emerged victorious in the last two cup dates between the two, with replay successes earned in 2009 and 1991.

Liverpool have prevailed when it matters most, though, with all-Merseyside finals in 1986 and 1989 going the way of the Reds.

Kenny Dalglish's side have also tasted Wembley glory once already this season, with the Carling Cup tucked away in their trophy cabinet.

Goalkeeper Brad Jones is set to make his first start since December 2010 as Liverpool prepare to turn to their third-choice shot-stopper.

The Australian comes into the side in place of suspended duo Jose Reina and Alexander Doni.

Defenders Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson are pushing for starting places having both made their comebacks from injury in the midweek win at Blackburn.

Steven Gerrard, Jose Enrique and Luis Suarez were left on the bench at Ewood Park, but they are expected to come back into Dalglish's starting XI on Saturday.

Everton manager David Moyes is set to revert to his strongest line-up after resting a number of players on Easter Monday.

Defender Leighton Baines, midfielder Tim Cahill and striker Nikica Jelavic are all set to return having been left out of the squad for the 4-0 win over Sunderland.

On-loan Tottenham midfielder Steven Pienaar is cup-tied but Darron Gibson will return to the team having been an unused substitute earlier in the week.

O'Neill Delights in Second Chance

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill was "delighted" to still be in the FA Cup after being second best for much of the 1-1 draw against an energetic Everton side.

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet kept the Black Cats in it late on with a fantastic double save, stopping a header from John Heitinga at full stretch before recovering to deny Nikica Jealvic with the rebound.

And O'Neill admits his side wavered towards the end of the game, but felt they deserved a draw.

"I think we started the game brilliantly, got the goal and we were playing very well," he said.

"The equaliser knocked us back, we lost a bit of confidence with it. There was a big surge from the home crowd.

"I thought the second half could have gone either way but they pressed us more towards the end of the game. I am delighted we are still in the hat, I probably would have taken that at the start of the game.

"I thought it was a magnificent double save, really brilliant. I think if we had been beaten there I would have been really disappointed. I wouldn't have been sure we deserved to be beaten.

"I think on reflection a draw was probably a fair result."

Stevie G Looking for Derby Win

Steven Gerrard has called on his Liverpool team-mates to 'take responsibility' for their recent Premier League slump and stage an immediate response in Tuesday's Merseyside derby.

The Carling Cup winners suffered a third consecutive league defeat for the first time since 2003 on Saturday when they were beaten 1-0 at Sunderland, having previously lost to Arsenal and Manchester United.

Liverpool's hopes of clinching a UEFA Champions League spot appear increasingly bleak, with Kenny Dalglish's side currently seventh in the table and 10 points adrift of the fourth-placed Gunners, who take on Newcastle on Monday night.

Captain Gerrard admits there were "no excuses" for his side's display on Wearside and wants to see them bounce back against Everton at Anfield ahead of Sunday's visit of Stoke in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"The players need to take responsibility for where we are in the league," Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo.

"It's just not good enough for a club like us to be there. We have to find a better level of consistency.

"We need a reaction and there's no better team to produce that against than Everton.

"It's important the players put in a performance and get a result for the fans. Everyone is a bit down after recent results but we want to put a smile back on their faces.

"It's a big week and we want to go into that Cup tie with Stoke on the back of a win."

Liverpool's Carling Cup triumph last month has failed to act as a springboard to further success as the club had hoped.

But Gerrard refuses to rule out a fourth-placed finish, adding: "It's going to be difficult now but we won't give up.

"It's not officially gone and we'll keep going but we've got a mountain to climb.

Focus

"We just have to focus on winning as many as we can between now and the end of the season and see what happens."

Gerrard sat out the defeat by Arsenal with a minor hamstring problem but returned to action as a second-half substitute at the Stadium of Light and will be fit to start Tuesday's derby.

He added: "I came through fine and I'll be ready to go on Tuesday night."

Gary Ablett Laid to Rest

Former team-mates and current professionals were among the mourners who today attended the funeral of ex-Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett.

The 46-year-old died on New Year's Day after a 16-month battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and Everton boss David Moyes were present at the city's Anglican Cathedral along with many of Ablett's team-mates – including John Barnes, Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson, Duncan Ferguson, Matt Jackson and David Unsworth – and other contemporaries from the 1980s and early 1990s.

The likes of Everton players Phil Neville and Tim Cahill were joined by former Toffees managers Joe Royle and Howard Kendall and ex-Reds boss Rafael Benítez.

Roy Keane, who briefly worked alongside Ablett at Ipswich just before his illness was diagnosed, was also present along with England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce

The coffin of Ablett, the only man to win the FA Cup with both Merseyside clubs, was carried into church to You'll Never Walk Alone and left to Everton's anthem Z-Cars.

After the service, Everton captain Neville Tweeted: "Sad sad day RIP Gary Ablett."

Echoing his sentiments, Neville's team-mate Cahill posted: "Rest in peace to a legend Gary Ablett. An emotional funeral and also amazing turnout for such a great person."

He leaves behind a wife, Jacqueline, and five children.

Everton Football Club in Sale Talks

Everton chief executive Robert Elstone says "genuine conversations" are taking place about a potential club takeover.

Indian construction giant Jain was the latest group to be linked with a move for Everton and officials held talks with chairman Bill Kenwright.

But BBC Sport understands that Jain's was only one of a dozen initial approaches made to the club in the past 12 months.

Elstone said: "There's been a constant stream of interest and dialogue."

There has been no hint that Jain will follow up with a bid, and no developments are expected imminently, but Elstone insists Everton is for sale.

He told the club's website: "There are a number of individuals, groups and companies interested in Everton and genuine conversations are taking place about future ownership and future investment.

"The club is always receptive, responsive and professional, which means we respect the confidentiality agreements which prevent either side from disclosing the interest."

Everton fans' group The Blue Union is planning a second protest against what it regards as stagnation under the current Kenwright regime before the home game against Wolves on 19 November.

Elstone added: "Of course, we fully understand what you [the fans] want to know is will these discussions be successful. That I can't say. Discussions are still at an early stage.

"What I know to be absolutely the case is the first question asked by us in these discussions is never 'how much?' but always 'what are your thoughts, intentions or plans for Everton's future?'

"I'm tired of saying it but the club is absolutely for sale and has not failed - and will not fail - to be sold because it's too expensive or comes with onerous conditions.

"We sincerely hope the right buyer, with the right motives, with a commitment to take Everton forward is part of this current dialogue."

The Blue Union, which staged its first protest before Everton's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa at Goodison Park in September, insists its aim is not to oust Kenwright but to act as a catalyst for a change in direction, as Everton have struggled through a lack of finance to compete with Premier League rivals.

The club currently lie fourth from bottom of the Premier League having won only one of their last six league games.