Things don’t get much easier for Everton when they welcome Premier League leaders Manchester City to Goodison Park on Saturday.
The inconsistent Toffees are in a relegation battle after their latest defeat.
A 3-0 victory over Leeds United was supposed to be the springboard for Everton in their bid to avoid a dogfight at the bottom of the table.
But, by Frank Lampard’s own admission, the Blues reverted to type in a 2-0 loss at Southampton last weekend.
Sitting 16th and four points above the drop zone, things are getting a little tense at Goodison.
Certainly, Lampard couldn’t have asked for a harder fixture than the visit of City - who are licking their wounds after a 3-2 stoppage-time defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
Everton currently have six players who are on the treatment table and getting some of those back will be crucial if they’re to get anything against Pep Guardiola’s side.