Marco Silva says Everton boast the quality to significantly improve results away from home, as the Blues target their first victory on the road this season at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Everton have drawn one and lost three of four away games this season and last claimed three points on their travels when they beat West Ham United at the London Stadium in late March.

The Blues have been productive on their own ground in the meantime – Everton have won seven and drawn one of their past 10 home games - and Silva insists his side must aim to replicate that form outside L4.

Moreover, the manager is eyeing rapid progress up the Premier League table after last week’s Goodison Park victory over West Ham saw Everton climb three places and to within four points of sixth.

“What we have been doing away is not good enough,” said Silva.

“We have the quality to do more and must do more.

“We have to look at this game [at Brighton] thinking it has to be our first away win, the game we play to score more goals – because we are not scoring enough goals away – and be solid as a team.

“With this desire to score goals and be solid we can win away games in the Premier League.

“Last season we improved on our away performance from the season before – but we should do better again this season.

“Until now we did not achieve the results we want.

“We must improve our away form because we have to support the work we are doing and the points we are getting at home with good results and performances away.

“We want to go for the highest position we can.

“Our period before the last game was not so good but we reacted and we should react again this weekend and improve from that game.”

Silva, who is waiting on the fitness of defender Yerry Mina before finalising his team to face Brighton, is anticipating a stern examination of his side’s renewed form on the south coast.

Albion beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in their most recent home match and have lost only once in four games at their Amex Stadium this term.

They have had a lot of praise sent in their direction, too, for the enterprising style of football implemented by Graham Potter, who was appointed manager in the summer.

If Silva insists his team must be alert to Brighton’s threat, though, he is equally unequivocal about the need for Everton to replicate the expansive football which proved too much for West Ham to resist last Saturday.

“We showed quality and pride in ourselves to play at that level and give the answer we did,” said Silva.

“We have to build from that… we have to play in that way – always with pride and that pace and desire to win the game.

"And play with the same freedom… we played with so much freedom and confidence.

“Let’s go and play the same way.

“But we will respect Brighton, they are a quality team, trying to build a clear model in the way they play and build attacks.

“They are being brave in the way the play at home and away; creating chances and being a tough opponent for everyone.

“It will be a tough game. They need points but so do we.

“We must go there trying to win. Thinking it is a must-win game because at Everton all games have to be must win.

“But they are thinking the same.

“Let’s hope we can perform better than them and be more solid than them and score enough goals to win.”