Everton were drawn at home to Premier League champions Leicester City in the third of the FA Cup on Monday night.The tie at Goodison Park may have been one to be frightened of last season, but the Foxes seem to be a totallydifferent outfit this term, and they are struggling in the top flight.
However, Toffees manager Ronald Koeman has already shown that his priority this term is the league over the cups after he made six changes to his side for their third round defeat to Norwich City in the EFL Cup in September.
The Merseyside outfit were dramatically beaten by Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup last season thanks to Jesse Lingardâs extra time goal, as the club suffered another disappointing end to a campaign.
Here are THREE reasons why winning the FA Cup should be a priority for Evertonâ¦
Winning a trophy
They may have been in the top flight for 63 consecutive seasons, and spent 114 seasons in total there â more than any other league club â but Everton havenât won a major trophy for more than 20 years.
The FA Cup triumph in 1995 was their last, and it is about time that one of English footballâs great clubs lifted some more silverware.
Last term they were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United in the semi-finals, and they should aim to go one better this year.
European football
Everton are currently eighth in the Premier League standings, and they will probably need to finish the campaign in sixth as a minimum if they are to qualify for Europe next season.
Manchester United currently hold that position but of course winning the FA Cup would see them qualify automatically for the Europa League, and it must be one of the top aims for Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri, who will want to put the Merseyside outfit on the map for prospective signings in the future, as well as holding to key players such as Romelu Lukaku.
The fans
The Toffees supporters have had two disappointing days out at Wembley in recent years â the semi-final defeat to Manchester United last year and the loss in the final against Chelsea in 2009 â and they will be desperate to see their team come away from Englandâs national stadium with a trophy in tow.
After being knocked out of the EFL Cup and with no European football this term, the fans will believe there is no reason why Koeman canât go all out in the FA Cup alongside their Premier League campaign.