Everton’s season went into tailspin yesterday as the Premier League club was knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Belgian club Standard Liege.

The match marked the 14th occasion that the Everton defence has been unable to keep the ball out of their goal this season, with a 77th minute penalty by Milan Jovanovic proving to be their undoing at the Merseyside Blues perished 4-3 on aggregate.

Everton were always going to have their work cut out for them heading into the second leg of their first round tie against Standard Liege, with the Belgians holding the advantage courtesy of the 2 away goals they scored during the draw at Goodison Park.

While Everton looked the better side in the first half of Thursday’s match, dominating possession, their defence looked decidedly fragile and concede the first goal of the match on 22 minutes.

Although Everton managed to equalise through Jagielka on 67 minutes, it was once again a defensive error that cost them the match, with Jovanovic’s penalty shatterng their hopes of claiming European silverware this season.

“We have had tough tests - all managers face difficult times, and I have had some,” Everton manager David Moyes said after the match. “No-one has a divine right to win football games. You have to earn the right to do so.”