After a stunning start to their Premier League season with four wins in four games, Everton have failed to pick up three points in the four games since: they drew with Liverpool and fell to defeat against Southampton, Newcastle, and Manchester United.
In these three defeats, they have conceded seven goals, a total that Carlo Ancelotti knows he will have to improve on if his team are to fight for the top four position they desperately want.
"We haven't defended well. We have conceded goals far too easily. it isn't hard to understand what happened against United. We defended badly and we are going to have to work on it", said Ancelotti in his latest press conference.
"He had started the season well and we have to return to that form after the international break to keep ourselves focussed", highlighted the Italian.
After the international break, the Toffees have three games in a row that they should win: Fulham, Leeds United, and Burnley.