Carlo Ancelotti says Everton must maintain the spirit and effort employed during the past week to overcome courageous Fulham at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Everton were the team left standing in the FA Cup after a rollercoaster fifth-round tie with Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

Four days earlier, Dominic Calvert-Lewin's last-gasp strike earned a 3-3 draw against Manchester United.

Ancelotti and his team are in rude health, then, in advance of Fulham’s visit – the manager is confident three clear days will enable full recovery from the midweek slugfest – but there is an onus on learning from past mistakes this weekend.

The Italian was critical of his side for a sub-par display in their most recent home Premier League game, against Newcastle United, and is cautioning standards cannot tail off if a similar slip-up is to be avoided.

“The last league game we played at home was a defeat, a surprise, we don’t want surprises against Fulham, while knowing it is a difficult game for a lot of reasons,” said Ancelotti.

“We are not far from the first four places and our target is to stay there.

“Fulham, in my opinion, are playing really good football – with courage and intensity.

“We have enough time to recover properly [from Tottenham] but we have to pay attention in this kind of game.

“I was really pleased with the effort and spirit against Tottenham.

“The spirit of Seamus Coleman who came on in a position [right-midfield] he is not used to playing.

“They are all good signs but we have to put that game away because we have another to focus on.”

Ancelotti admits there is a “strong possibility” of Joshua King making a full Everton debut against Fulham following the Norwegian’s deadline-day transfer from Bournemouth.

Everton will be missing Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the 18-goal striker sustained a “little” hamstring problem in the Cup game.

But Ancelotti insists it is a boon to have Richarlison “back” after the Brazilian, who has been coming to the boil in recent matches, struck a tremendous double against Spurs.

The former Real Madrid boss, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, was also asked about Tom Davies following the midfielder’s man-of-the match display two days ago.

 “Tom is doing really well and has improved a lot,” said Ancelotti.

“The base of his quality is as a powerful and dynamic midfielder.

“Where he could improve, and has improved, is to manage the ball better.

“Tactically, he is doing well.

“He has been playing as a professional for a long time but is a young player and can improve quickly.

“He has the desire to improve and a really strong feeling of belonging to this club, which is helpful for us.

“I was really pleased with Richarlison’s performance against Tottenham.

“He had a lot of problems in the first part of the season but we can say he is back.

“We are pleased because he is a really important player for us.”

Everton’s reward for getting past Spurs is a home quarter-final tie with Manchester City.

Ancelotti welcomed that challenge and conceded a successful pursuit of silverware typically involves surviving the sternest of tests.

Thoughts of that game in five weeks go on the back burner for now, however, with a raft of Premier League fixtures imminent.

Entering a week when his side will tackle Manchester City, in the league, and Liverpool, in addition to Fulham, Ancelotti wants to address an increase in goals let in by his team of late.

That represents a a tricky juggling act because the seven they’ve conceded in the past two games have been surpassed by eight scored.

“I would be more worried if we conceded seven and didn’t score,” added Ancelotti.

“We suffered where we usually didn’t have problems, on set pieces.

“Usually, we were solid and strong… we have to adjust some positions.

“We conceded a lot but scored a lot because we tried to play an open game.

“Against United, the strategy was not only to defend and counter-attack.

“It was to build from the back and use the [creative] quality we had in Andre Gomes and James [Rodriguez].

“And against Tottenham, we wanted to use the quality of Gylfi Sigurdsson.”