Frank Lampard pointed to a lack of composure and difficulty in winning second balls as he highlighted his frustration in Everton defeat to Manchester United.
Everton made a dream start when Alex Iwobi scored a superb long-range goal in the fifth minute.
But individual errors from the home side were punished as Antony and Cristiano Ronaldo – netting the 700th club goal of his career – delivered United victory.
Speaking after the match, Lampard pointed to the first half performance of the Blues as a key factor in the defeat, including individual errors that paved the way for both of the away side’s goals.
“We can improve that and that is part of our process of working together and getting better on the ball and going from probably a way of playing before, as I came in here, and bringing players into the team, and an understanding of when to have a bit of calmness on the ball.” He said.
“It is not always easy on a night at Goodison when everyone wants everything right now. But at the same time we have to have the confidence to do that. We were just off it today, to a degree, in the first half. It is definitely a game of lessons for us.”
“If we’d have won this game and played really well, I’d have probably said we can get better in possession, we can get more urgent and active at different times.
“Those things were slightly reinforced for us, but not in a bad way because where we are, it won’t be a straight line. It’s not the rules of football to get to where we want to get to but, at the same time, we need to take on those little lessons today and be better.
When asked if the dressing mood was the same as his after the game, Lampard said: “Yeah, it was. That’s the good thing. The players feel it.
“There’s definitely not too much shouting and swearing from me in that sense. At half-time, I didn’t like it much but at the end of the game, it’s one we just take.
“It’s a good group that is growing on and off the pitch but this is the Premier League – things like today can happen.
“When you’re off it for 45 minutes, a team at Manchester United’s level will punish you when you turn the ball over in midfield. We just move on, and take it on board.”
The Toffees suffered a 2-1 defeat against the Red Devils at Goodison Park – bringing an end to their seven-match unbeaten streak.
