CARLO: EUROPA DREAM IS REALITY

CARLO ANCELOTTI insisted Everton can qualify for Europe after goals by Bernard, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin lifted the in-form Blues up to seventh.

The Merseysiders have now picked up 22 points from their last 11 games – and the arrival of Ancelotti before Christmas has given the Goodison club belief that they can now grab a European place.

Ancelotti said: “Now our position in the table is good and we can dream about fighting for the Europa League in the next games.

“At this moment, we believe in what we are doing.

“The spirit is so important here because, at times, we aren’t good enough with the ball and we have to improve on that. But the work everyone has done in this period has been really good.”

Palace are slipping towards the bottom three after their seventh game without a win.

Palace have scored just 23 goals this season – the lowest total in the division – and Hodgson admitted it is something they will have to address ahead of a crucial run of games that sees them face Newcastle, Brighton, Watford and Bournemouth.

The Eagles boss, however, will not be using the 14-day break to take his players on a training camp.

He said: “I am concerned about the lack of goals, but, if we continue to play like that and create chances, then they will come. We have a good break now.

“We aren’t taking the players away. They will get some time off, but they will all have individual fitness programmes to do and we hope they come back refreshed.

“It’s important that they come back fit and ready for the last 12 games.”