Frank Lampard believes that his Everton side have shown they have the mentality and quality to blast clear of the relegation scrap and head towards the Premier League's top 10.
The Blues boss was pleased with the character his side showed in giving as good as they got in the Mersey derby, but was even happier with the quality they showed at times, in causing Liverpool big problems.
And after avoiding relegation only three days before the end of last season, he believes his new signings this summer have allowed his team to express themselves in a far better way.
Lampard admitted he needed to take a pragmatic approach to keep Everton in the Premier League, but said he can see now his players growing into a less defensive, and more expansive style.
"I do think we are evolving our style now, yeah," he said. "You could see what we are aiming for now. Probably compromise is the word for last season, I think I had to compromise (my) ideas (to stay up),
“For me as a coach it was a great experience to try and find a way that I hadn’t been used to in my coaching career at Chelsea and Derby. That was a foundation of spirit and fight but for me to stay in the Premier League you need more than that.
“I think our recruitment is a big deal for that - we have brought in players who can receive the ball and play the ball through the midfield and be comfortable on the ball and make the right decisions.”
It is the decision-making against Liverpool that heartened Lampard the most, and he believes with Dominic Calvert-Lewin back in training next week, he has the basis to aim far higher this season, despite a difficult start.
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“Obviously Dominic is a big player for us here. I haven't experienced him as much as I want since I've been here,” he said.
“But obviously I experienced one of the best days of my life when he headed that ball in last season (to beat Palace and guarantee safety), we understand what he can bring to the team.
“As much as you coach and train and talk about the tactics you want to play, you will always be in the hands of players and decisions they make on the pitch. I think a lot of the decisions we made today were a sign of us improving.
“We are far from the finished article, we want to start having more possession, more control of games, and I think you saw the ability to do that, and it was good for the lads to feel that and it encourages them to keep working on that.”
