Marco Silva says Everton needed to be more incisive to puncture Sheffield United’s obdurate rearguard after the Blues lost at home for the first time in eight matches on Saturday.

Yerry Mina deflected Oliver Norwood’s corner into his own goal five minutes before half-time to put the visitors in front against the run of play at Goodison Park.

Everton created a number of half-chances as they sought a leveller but allowed Lys Mousset to escape on the counter and steer in the Blades' second goal with 11 minutes remaining.

Silva’s side had won their previous six home matches and were unbeaten in seven on their own ground.

“It was a tough game for us… we didn't deserve the result but football is what it is and when you make mistakes like we did this afternoon, even if you deserve something more, you don’t achieve it,” said Silva.

“Unfortunately for us, in the past two games the mistakes have come too often and created some extra pressure and extra instability that are not normal in our team, or for the level we want to play.

“Sheffield United came here to play in a different way from their past two away games - more back, not high, respecting our team.

“In those situations we have to show not just quality but enough mobility to disorganise them, and then take the right decisions.

“We did that in some moments, of course not so often as I want. But we looked in some moments as if we could score.”

Everton have seven points from their opening six Premier League games and welcome champions Manchester City to Goodison next Saturday.

Silva’s side won their first two Goodison fixtures this term, against Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, but were defeated at Bournemouth last week following the season’s first international break.

The Blues hogged possession from kick-off against Sheffield United and the away team led at the break despite having no attempts at goal in the opening 45 minutes.

Everton, on the other hand, had 10 and finished the match with 16 efforts to the away team's two.

Dean Henderson saved smartly from Lucas Digne on 17 minutes and Bernard acrobatically volleyed narrowly over on the half-hour mark.

A Richarlison header was kept out by Blades goalkeeper Henderson shortly after the deadlock had been broken.

After the restart Henderson was sharply off his line to save one-on-one from Moise Kean, who had another goalbound effort repelled by centre-half John Egan's flying block.

Before they welcome City to L4, Everton face Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Tuesday with a spot in the Carabao Cup fourth round at stake.

“We started the game the way we planned it, creating some good moments and some dangerous moments for Sheffield United,” added Silva.

“But you cannot make mistakes.

“The key moment for me was the mistake we made for the first goal. We conceded when we were on top and doing the things we planned.

“One ball [in the move when Sheffield United won their corner to score] and it was so easy for us to make the clearance, but our two central defenders jumped together and it was a corner.

“The own goal… in my opinion it was maybe a foul maybe on the goalkeeper - but they didn’t shoot once on target and were winning 1-0 because we scored the own goal.

“We had a reaction after the goal and created a clear chance for Richarlison but the second half was not good enough.

“We have to show more quality, we have to show different things and, again, we cannot give them the chance to score so easily in that moment.

“We had 45, 50 minutes to change things and we have to show that possibility to change things. But, okay, it’s done and we need to analyse it now and work hard for Tuesday.”