We’re pleased to be back on home soil for what is another opportunity to put important points on the board.

Last time out against Manchester City, I thought the details in transition on the offensive side of our game were a long way off the levels we expect from ourselves. I have to be honest about that because the defensive side of our game was excellent – as it has been for the majority of this season – with the organisation and the delivery of the tactical elements we had worked on in the build-up to the game seeing us limit one of the best teams in world football.

When you are working so hard defensively, playing and being effective with the ball when you do have it is the biggest challenge of all. The key to a total performance is how many times you can transition from defence to attack efficiently.

Against Manchester City, we found the odd moment but we gave the ball away too cheaply and didn’t find the right pass when we were in good areas.

With that said, speaking more generally, our chance count this season has been high, with underlying metrics to support that, so we have to stick with it and keep working hard to ensure we convert more of those opportunities. We are developing a blend that can be successful in the modern game but there is still work for us to do.

Once again, a key decision with the award of a corner that led to the first goal, as well as a number of soft ones, went against us but I don’t want to keep harping on about it. Being on the wrong end of calls is never going to be a focus in our group and we will not make excuses.

Instead, all of our focus, all of our energy has to be on ourselves and keeping the belief in what we are building here. That was always the message but it has been refocused since the Premier League commission’s decision to deduct us 10 points earlier in the season, a sanction we have appealed. Regardless of the outcome of that, we must remain steadfast in our self-belief. The performance levels have been good so far but there are improvements to be made and they are achieved through hard work.

The nine-day gap between our last game and this evening has given us more time to work with some of the players we lost to injury over a particularly busy period in December. Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young are working their way back to full fitness having missed chunks of action, while Amadou Onana returned and made a strong impact off the bench against Manchester City and Abdoulaye Doucoure has resumed training with us following a hamstring problem.

Tonight we welcome the players, staff and everyone connected to Crystal Palace.

We must take confidence from the two wins we’ve recorded over Palace so far this season, while also being fully aware each game is a completely different matter that throws up different challenges. We know they head to Goodison looking to build momentum after a challenging period and we must be ready to match – and better – the intensity they will no doubt bring.

Finally, tonight we celebrate the incredible work of the Club’s official charity, Everton in the Community, which celebrates its 36th birthday this month.

While football matters have been unrelenting since joining in January last year, I have had the pleasure of seeing first-hand the life-changing work EitC does for people across the Liverpool City Region. The depth and the impact of the work is so impressive and that feel of community is one that is undoubtedly at the core of what Everton is about.

As part of fundraising efforts this month, there will be bucket collections in and around the stadium tonight and, if you can, I know any money you can spare will be going to very worthy causes.

Thanks for your ongoing support and enjoy the game.

Sean