Thursday 21 April 2016 18:39, UK
After seeing his side suffer a 4-0 thrashing in the Merseyside derby, Roberto Martinez must somehow lift his Everton players for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
But problems are mounting up for the Spaniard and preparation time for the Wembley showpiece is limited.
From injuries and bans to poor form and pressure, we take a look at the challenge Martinez and Everton are facing...
Selection dilemma
After resting players against Southampton last weekend, Martinez made six changes to his first team for the trip to Anfield, in a desperate bid to grab a confidence-boosting result. However, the move spectacularly back-fired, with Everton crushed by their rivals and now set to be without several key first-team players for Saturday's semi-final.
Gareth Barry was forced out at half-time with a groin problem and Martinez says the midfielder is "very doubtful" to face Manchester United. Ramiro Funes Mori will also be missing through suspension, following his straight red card for an ugly challenge on Divock Origi.
There are question marks, too, over the health of John Stones, who was substituted in the second half with stomach cramps, and fellow defenders Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman, who both missed the derby with hamstring problems.
With Funes Mori, Stones, Jagielka and Coleman out, Martinez would be left with only Leighton Baines available from his regular senior defenders.
Defensive problems
Even if the likes of Stones and Jagielka pull through to play on Saturday, Martinez still has serious defensive issues to address.
Everton's poor defending at Goodison Park this season has been well documented - only Aston Villa have conceded more at home - but Liverpool exposed them regularly at Anfield, too.
Midfielders Muhamed Besic and James McCarthy were forced to fill in at centre-back during the second half, but even when Stones and Funes Mori were on the field, Everton conceded two poor goals which Martinez put down to "an inability to do the basics right."
Across the pitch, Everton were poor when they didn't have the ball. "I said at half-time Everton were embarrassing, and they were," Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said after the final whistle. "I've never known a derby game where it was so easy to pass the ball. When you play derby games, the pitches seem really tight whether that be at Anfield or Goodison, but it was so easy for Liverpool."
Goal drought
While the focus has been on Everton's poor defending in recent weeks, at the other end, the goals have dried up. Martinez's side have scored just twice in their past six games - those goals coming from centre-back Funes Mori and central midfielder McCarthy.
Top scorer Romelu Lukaku hasn't scored in five and against Liverpool, Everton failed to register a single shot on target.
On Saturday, Everton come up against a Manchester United side which has kept 24 clean sheets across all competitions this season. The Toffees must re-find their goal-scoring touch at Wembley.
Manchester United's form
While Everton suffered at Anfield, United cruised to a comfortable 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. It was United's fifth win in their last six outings - only title-chasing Tottenham have beaten them in that run - and the victory saw them close the gap on the Premier League's top four.
As well as better recent form, United have also done the double over Everton this season, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 win at Goodison Park in the first part of the campaign before winning 1-0 at Old Trafford earlier this month.
Martinez and Everton must find a way to reverse their recent fortunes against Louis van Gaal's men if they are to keep their season alive.
Season depends on it
Indeed, Everton's season - and seemingly Martinez's tenure as manager - depends on Saturday's result.
In the Premier League, the Toffees are closer to the relegation zone in points than seventh and could easily finish as low as 16th - they're just two points ahead of fifth-bottom Crystal Palace.
While the cups have offered solace this term - Everton also reached the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup - the enormity of this weekend's Wembley showdown isn't lost on Martinez.
When asked about his future as Everton boss after Wednesday's defeat, Martinez said: "It's not about my job. All I want is to bring success to Everton and it's about the players wanting to be themselves, coping with the occasion.
"We know we're one step away from the (FA Cup) final and that's the only thing that can bring satisfaction to our fans. That's the only thing we're going to concentrate on."
To do that, Everton and Martinez will have to overcome substantial obstacles.
