Following an explosive start to the campaign that saw Everton reach second in the Premier League table after the first five matches, Toffees fans may have started to feel that they were in for a great season.

However, they have largely struggled to find any consistent form since then and currently sit in eighth in the standings following their 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Sunday, where Leighton Baines’ late penalty gave them a share of the spoils and spared them from defeat.

Manager Ronald Koeman has come under pressure from some of the Merseyside club’s supporters following a number of below-par performances in recent weeks - something the Dutchman will want to put right ahead of the upcoming busy festive period as Everton look to finish as high up the table as they can in order to qualify for Europe next term.

Here are five things that must be on Koeman’s Xmas list…

Wins

The Dutchman will certainly want to see his side pick up some more wins.

Since those four victories in their opening five matches of the campaign, Everton have tasted success just once in their last nine games. The situation must change.

It will be a tough task in the coming weeks though with home matches against title-challengers Arsenal and Liverpool, and while they may currently be in poor form, the subsequent trip to champions Leicester City on Boxing Day won’t be an easy one either.

Victory in the Merseyside derby

As we mentioned before, Everton host Liverpool at Goodison Park the week before Christmas and Koeman will see it as a big opportunity in many respects.

Firstly, it is a chance to win over the supporters that have become frustrated with his side’s performances in recent weeks, while it is also an opportunity to experience the brilliant atmosphere a Merseyside derby can create. He will want to give the fans something to shout after a fair few weeks of negativity at Goodison.

Avoiding a repeat of 2015

Koeman will certainly want a more cheerful Christmas than he enjoyed in 2015 with Southampton, when the Dutchman saw his side take just one point from a possible 15 before Christmas.

Despite the fantastic 4-0 thumping of Arsenal on Boxing Day, Saints went on to lose their next two matches against West Ham and Norwich. The Everton boss won’t want to see a repeat of that run of form over the festive period in 2016, which could potentially put his job on the line.

Clean sheets

Everton began the season in fine form and that included defensively, where they conceded just three goals in their opening five matches.

However, since then they have kept just one shutout in the Premier League and while they are struggling to find that fluidity going forward, they must be more solid at the back if they are to pick up positive results in the coming weeks.

As a former defender, Koeman will surely be working hard with the likes of Phil Jagielka, who has been prone to errors in recent showings, in training.

Lukaku & Barkley to rekindle form

Both Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley started the current campaign in fine form but as their performances have dipped in recent weeks, so have Everton’s. Koeman will want two of his key men to start being more influential on the pitch over the busy festive period.

Both players scored in the 2-0 win against West Ham in October – the Toffees’ only success in the Premier League in their last nine games – and that is surely no coincidence, although Barkley will need to earn his spot in the starting XI after he was dropped against Manchester United on Sunday.