Phil Jagielka is hopeful that Saturday's 1-0 win at Crystal Palace proves to be a watershed moment in Everton's stop-start season.

Romelu Lukaku struck the only goal of the game as the Toffees edged out in-form Palace at Selhurst Park to end a run of six Premier League matches without a win.

Roberto Martinez's side host Merseyside rivals Liverpool at Goodison Park next Saturday hoping to secure back-to-back league victories for the first time since October.

"We have got a win that has been long overdue and hopefully we can go on a run," he told Sky Sports News. "Not many of the boys would have needed a lift going into the derby but it wouldn't have been nice going into it, if we hadn't have got the win.

"The way things go, especially in football, we tend to build people up very quickly and shoot them down just as quickly. That is the same with us. The manager and the players, we have taken a lot of stick, but people pay a lot of money to come and see us play.

"They are allowed their opinion, we understand that, and we know that is the nature of the beast. Win, and you are superstars. A 1-0 win doesn't make us superstars yet, but a victory next week against Liverpool might."

Jagielka netted a last-gasp equaliser in the reverse fixture at Anfield earlier in the season.

Victory would take Everton, who sit 12th in the table, within nine points of their local rivals.

Written by
Shane Callaghan