Everton boss Frank Lampard has urged positivity as they battle against the drop.
Everton are facing the very real possibility of playing outside of the top flight for the first time in 68 years if they are to be relegated to the Championship.
The Toffees welcome Lampard’s former side Chelsea on Sunday, and go into the contest five points off safety with six games left to play.
“We have to have a real strong belief,” the 43-year-old Chelsea legend told Sky Sports.
“When times are difficult in terms of results and position, it’s important you remain positive and have a belief about what you can do here and that maybe things will go in our favour. We need to keep working towards that.”
When asked if being in the bottom three affects the mindset of Everton players, Lampard responded: “For me it hasn’t because we understand our situation. It’s been very close since I’ve been at the club.
“It’s not easy to turn that when you’re getting towards the end of the season. The reality is here anyway, whether we’re one point, two points out of the relegation zone or one or two points in it.
“This situation is clear, we need to win games, we need to get points to stay in the league. For me it just adds to the focus of what you need to do.”