Jordan Pickford insists Everton will not dwell on their 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on Monday night with the Blues still firmly in the hunt for European qualification.

Everton came into the game on a nine-match unbeaten streak away from home but saw their tremendous run ended by an in-form Chelsea outfit.

The west London side have yet to taste defeat since Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as manager in late January. And they secured victory at Stamford Bridge after an unfortunate 31st-minute Ben Godfrey own goal and Jorginho’s penalty midway through the second half.

Despite the result, Everton are just four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and have a game in hand on Tuchel’s men.

Pickford admitted Chelsea “were the better side on the night” but says belief will remain strong in the Everton squad ahead of Saturday’s clash with Burnley at Goodison Park.

“We knew it would be a tough game against Chelsea,” said Pickford. 

“They’re in a good place, like we are. They are doing really well and it wasn’t our night. 

“We kept going but came up against a good side and we’ve got to hold our hands up, I think. 

“We’ll be disappointed by not getting a result, but we can’t dwell on it too much. 

“We’ll recover well and focus on Burnley on Saturday.”

Pickford made a host of outstanding saves at Stamford Bridge. 

He produced a fine one-handed stop to keep out Marcos Alonso late in the first half and, after the break, exceptional interventions from the England No.1 twice prevented Timo Werner from getting on the scoresheet.

Callum Hudson-Odoi and N’Golo Kante were also foiled by Pickford, whose “really good performance” earned praise from Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti in his post-match press conference.

Pickford said he was disappointed to concede the penalty which led to Chelsea’s second goal but revealed his high confidence levels after a string of impressive displays.

“For the penalty, it was a good run from [Kai] Havertz into the box after a good pass,” he said.

“As a keeper, sometimes you get a good touch on it and sometimes you don’t. I hold my hands up.

“I’ll go back and look at what I can do better.

“I fancy myself on penalties as well, but it wasn’t to be. Jorginho can take them well.

“But I move on and I feel I’m in good place at the moment.”

Everton found it difficult to create clear openings against a Chelsea side which has kept nine clean sheets in 11 matches since Tuchel’s arrival.

Pickford is convinced Everton boast the quality to get back on the goalscoring trail when Burnley visit Goodison on Saturday.

“They were hard to break down but I feel we are creating chances in games,” he added. 

“Richarlison’s been helping Dom [Calvert-Lewin] with the goals. But you can’t win every game and they were hard to break down.

“It’s disappointing for us but we need to get three points against Burnley now.

“That’s another tough game – every game in the Premier League is. But we need to make sure we get that win at Goodison on Saturday.”