Frank Lampard hailed goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after Everton took a giant step towards survival with a 1-0 home victory over third-placed Chelsea on Sunday.
Richarlison netted the winner shortly after half-time, while Pickford was the hero with a series of amazing saves to deny the Blues in the second half.
The result means Everton are up to 32 points from 33 games, but remain 18th, behind Burnley - who won 2-1 at Watford on Saturday - and Leeds United who are both on 34 points from 34 games. Leeds have comfortably the worst difference of all three clubs.
“Jordan made great saves,” Everton boss Lampard told BBC. “They are Chelsea and will have chances but we had chances as well.
“Jordan is such a great lad, he is England’s number one and that is the reason why.
“That is top level goalkeeping, I a happy with him and all the players and all the subs who came on.”
Bottom club Norwich City were officially relegated on Saturday, while 19th-placed Watford are practically down, while there is a large six-point gap between 15th-placed Southampton and Burnley.
As a result, it feels like it will be a battle between three clubs, Burnley, Leeds and Everton, to avoid the final relegation spot.
“There are a lot of points fight for we are still in the relegation zone, we have the extra game but we have to go with that same spirit in every match,” Lampard said.
“I prodded the players a bit before todays game, because I thought they needed it. The situation is clear, we need to perform at that level in our remaining games.
“This is not the time to enjoy it and relax. There is a reason we are where we are and a big part of that is the away form. People are right to ask questions if the players dont produce that level of performance against Leicester and Watford.
“It is a different demand from now because it is critical it is no good waiting until there are two games remaining, we have five games and are in a fight and it is in our hands to perform how we did today.”
