Football
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Ronald Koeman: Everton can still perform better this season

Ronald Koeman was pleased with Everton's 1-0 win over Stoke, but says there is still much more to come from his side.

Saturday's victory at Goodison Park was settled by Shay Given's own goal -- Leighton Baines' penalty rebounded off the post and the goalkeeper -- after Phil Bardsley was penalised for tangling with Ashley Williams.

The result made it seven points from a possible nine for the Toffees, who now sit second, and gave them their best start to a Premier League season in 10 years.

"Maybe it is good to take a picture of that [league table] and keep it until the end of the season,'' he said. "We'd like to keep it that way but we need to improve, play better.

"The defensive organisation in the team is good, three matches, two goals, and that is the way to build but a lot of things offensively we can do better. We are still not on the [right] level and we have seven points out of nine.''

It was not all good news for Everton, though, as James McCarthy may have to have surgery on a groin problem which ruled him out of the match.

However, regardless of the injury, Koeman says the midfielder will not be sold in the transfer window.

"We need to decide if it is an operation, yes or no,'' added Koeman. "There is more interest in players of Everton and we like to keep everybody and players like McCarthy need to stay.''

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