Bernard says Everton are profiting from the intense competition for positions in Marco Silva’s starting XI – and the attacker is “trying to make an impression” at every opportunity.

Brazilian Bernard was rewarded for a decisive cameo from the bench at Cardiff City last week with a place in Everton’s team for Sunday’s Merseyside derby.

He was a consistent threat operating on the left against Liverpool and came desperately close to turning home a low cross from compatriot Richarlison late in the second half.

Bernard has started 16 Premier League games since joining from Ukraninan club Shakhtar Donetsk in pre-season, finishing on the winning side eight times and drawing two matches. He is battling for an attacking spot with fellow forwards Richarlison, Theo Walcott, Ademola Lookman and Gylfi Sigurdsson, among others.

“It is not just during games I look to make an impression, it is during training as well,” Bernard told evertontv.

“I am always looking to cement a place in the first team – and every player in the squad is exactly the same. 

“There is a lot of respect between us in this team.

“That is the thing about football, for better or for worse, there is this competition – and it is beneficial for the team.

“And without a doubt I am always looking to guarantee my place in the side.”

Bernard mixed trickery and invention with hard work and defensive diligence against Liverpool, who carried a significant threat on their right flank in the shape of Mohamed Salah and full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The 26-year-old’s dazzling feet and wicked delivery created a goal for Sigurdsson five minutes after he was introduced to the action at Cardiff last Tuesday.

He won praise from his boss for that contribution and picked up at Goodison where he left off in south Wales five days earlier.

Bernard contested 18 duels, a tally surpassed only by Andrew Robertson, who had his hands full trying to contain Richarlison as Everton steadily ramped up their attacking efforts after the break.

He covered 6.3 miles and embarked on 18 sprints, fewer only than Seamus Coleman [20] among his teammates.

The South American, capped 14 times by his country and a seasoned Champions League performer, added his voice to that of manager Marco Silva, who insisted the ear-splitting noise generated inside Goodison Park drove his team to produce a performance brimming with intensity and purpose.

“It really was a different atmosphere,” added Bernard, who played 17 times for Shakhtar against fierce domestic rivals Dynamo Kiev.

“The fans are always there, supporting us and shouting us on, but there was something different inside the stadium.

“That gave us an extra bit of motivation and we gave that little bit more.

"The support was so important. They were really with us today, it was a big effort from the team and from the supporters.

“We wanted to achieve the victory and we tried to get it. But we deserved the draw at least and it was important we got another point after winning on Tuesday.

“Now we want to put more points on the table and we have to quickly start thinking about Newcastle on Saturday.”