Saturday 1 April 2017 14:57, UK
Everton's next two results, starting with Saturday's Merseyside derby, will go a long way in determining whether they can qualify for next season's Champions League, according to manager Ronald Koeman.
Everton take on city rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, followed by another daunting trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
With the Toffees seventh in the table, two points behind fifth-placed United - albeit having played two more games than Jose Mourinho's side - and six adrift of the Reds in fourth, Koeman knows just how critical these next two matches are in the race to finish in the top four.
"We need to show it and depending on the next two results, Liverpool and then Man Utd away on Tuesday, that makes it more clear our possibilities till the end of the season," he told Sky Sports News ahead of the derby.
The Dutchman has targeted four points from Everton's next two league outings, a haul he believes would see the club in with a good chance of sealing a top-four finish come the end of the season.
"I believe that yes [four points would see Everton challenge for the top four]," said Koeman.
"If you look at Everton since the start of 2017, we have had a great run or results. We have had the best results of all the Premier League teams, but we know that Liverpool and Man Utd away are really tough games.
"But we had a draw away at [Man] City and in my time managing Southampton we won against all the big teams. And this Everton team is not less quality than that Southampton team was and it is football.
"You need to believe and you need to believe in the quality of your team-mates and you need to show that aggression and control your emotions, because that is also a really important part of the Merseyside derby."
Since losing the reverse fixture at Goodison Park in December, Everton have gone on a brilliant run that has seen them suffer just one defeat in 12 league matches while collecting 27 points from a possible 36.
However, Koeman highlights the club's 3-2 loss at Watford earlier that month as being the catalyst in the Toffees' recent upturn in results, a setback that led to a frank exchange of views between players and staff.
"It was maybe the worst result and performance against Watford away," he said. "We spoke really straight and honestly together and everyone was involved in that meeting.
"Everyone was allowed to say his thoughts at that time and it was a really open meeting. And I think that point was really important to understand the situation and it was really a reaction."
He is the No 9 that every manager would like
Meanwhile, the addition of new players such as Morgan Schneiderlin and Ademola Lookman in the January transfer window has also breathed new life into Everton's squad.
"Of course some good results gave us the confidence," Koeman said. "The home performances and also some new, younger faces and players in the team brought more quality and freshness to the squad. And we found a really good balance to the team."
One player the visitors will still be relying heavily on to secure a first win at Anfield since September 1999, though, is in-form striker Romelu Lukaku.
The powerful Belgium international heads into the showdown in red-hot form having scored nine times in his last six league encounters, as well as finding the net for his country with a late equaliser against Greece last Saturday.
"Everybody knows he is one of the best finishers," said Koeman of the Premier League's top scorer, who has 21 goals to his name so far this campaign, as well as six assists.
"But he is also improving in his other qualities, he is working harder than he did, he is running more than he did. We have the numbers and he is the No 9 that every manager would like in their team."
However, while Koeman is sure his side are now in a better position than last time out to end their seven-year wait for a league win over Liverpool, he offers no guarantees of three points this weekend.
"I hope, I believe we are stronger now," he said. "But I do not know if it is enough for three points because that depends on a lot of circumstances in the game. And we play against a really strong team and you also need to respect that."
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