Ronald Koeman insists that Everton’s Merseyside derby doesn’t alter their season.
Last weekend’s 3-1 reversal to Liverpool saw a Blues side hampered by injury fail to end their 18-year run without a win at Anfield.
Koeman’s side bounced back just three days later with a hard-earned point against Manchester United that kept their European qualification hopes alive.
And the Everton manager maintains that little has changed in the grander scheme in losing to their closest rivals.
He said: “Bouncing back, I think, is our job even if we lose the derby.
“Okay, I understand all the feelings about playing against Liverpool but it doesn’t change the situation.
“I think the players did a great job to react in a short time to prepare for the next game after Liverpool [with] the injuries we had, seven boys in the 18 [man squad] were 22 and younger.
“But still we’re fighting for European football. Maybe that’s something to realise for everybody in what we are trying to do.”
Sunday’s visit of Leicester City is the first of back-to-back games at Goodison Park which could propel Everton towards Premier League top five finish.
“I expect if we get six points out of the next two home games, Leicester and Burnley, that we will fight for fifth and sixth place,” added Koeman.
“If we finish seventh it’s [still] a really successful season. If we get more out of that, it’s fantastic.”