2. Steady progress for Martinez
Although a nil-nil draw in the Merseyside derby does little to help lift the spirits in what has so far been a terrible season for Everton, Roberto Martinez wouldn’t be too unhappy with a point. Especially, given the Toffees poor recent record in the derby and the fact that they had lost six times in the league, since their win over West Ham at home in late November.
For Martinez, it will be a case of small steps as he looks to ensure that his side aren’t dragged into a relegation fight. A third-straight clean sheet in the Premier League is something that will certainly please the Spanish manager as he looks to sort his defence, which has gone from being one of the best in the league last season, to being one of the worst this time around. While his side’s play can certainly be described as boring and attritional at times, it was enough to take a point against a side that has genuine ambitions of a Champions League spot. With the fixture list set to become considerably easier over the next few weeks, Everton’s hopes of staying in the league are starting to become very real, rather than being wishful thinking.