Everton manager Roberto Martinez strives for “perfection”

“We all felt the expectation could work both ways (in the quarter-final against Middlesbrough) – either positive or be cagey”.

He continued: “Anyone can get carried away and we have done that over the last few years in the British game with young players – we see a young player in a good moment and we make them superstars”.

“It will be a phenomenal, phenomenal occasion for our club”.

Everton have won six of the previous 12 games but have only won one of their last four league games against the Eagles. But, as their last five games in all competitions have shown, they have also been inconsistent, losing heavily to Manchester City in the League Cup and falling to Sunderland at home before hammering porous Newcastle 5-1 in their last game.

“December is the most significant month in the Premier League in terms of competing for 15 points”, said Martinez, whose team lie ninth in the table, six points behind the Champions League places.

Against Crystal Palace on Monday he will again line up with Romelu Lukaku, who has scored 13 goals this season with seven provided by Deulofeu, who scored the first then set up the Belgian for the second against Middlesbrough in midweek.

In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Roberto Martinez said: “We’re not going to find out until Saturday or Sunday if he will be available for the squad or not”.

The Crystal Palace manager is preparing his team to face the striker on Monday evening.

The continued fluctuation of fortunes for the top flight’s supposed elite clubs has left both the race for the Champions League and the Premier League title itself wide open and there is opportunity for a club like Everton that can put a run of wins together.

“We can’t match the money these clubs are paying now but must get into a position where we also can go for the title”.

Midfielders James McArthur and Yannick Bolasie had doubles while winger Wilfried Zaha added another one after Magpies striker Papiss Cissé opened the scoring at the 10th en route to the lopsided victory.

“Last week was a dive and now he can’t play this week”.

Everton V Crystal Palace – view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.

The Everton boss said: “Any foreign player, when he arrives in the Premier League, has to adapt to the physicality of the competition”.