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Marco Silva has lifted the lid on what has turned Everton's defence around over the last few weeks.

The Blues have kept seven clean sheets in the last nine games to help achieve some strong results, especially at Goodison Park, over recent months.

Everton were faced with a daunting run of fixtures against the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United at home - but won three of those matches and didn't concede a goal in any.

While Silva's side were criticised for their set piece defending and use of zonal marking across January and February, those comments have now fallen silent.

But the boss is adamant his side haven't trained any differently to secure an upturn - and highlighted what he believes has been the difference.

“Focus and commitment to our idea. Nothing more," Silva told the ECHO .

“We didn't change anything. Like I told you, if I felt during some moments this season that changing to another way would be a solution I would do that, it's so easy for me.

(Image: Emma Simpson/Everton FC via Getty Images)

“I want to win and I want to get the best from my players, always.

“But my feeling was that with 100% focus and commitment with this idea, everything would be normal. And we have shown that.

“We've had more time to work of course and had more time to settle everything.

“But it was all about having full focus and commitment. After that we can be more aggressive.”

Silva believes Everton's improved defence in general is vital for the squad to improve, and will be a great building block to improve on further down the line.

The boss added: “It's one of the most important things in football in my opinion.

“With our offensive philosophy, idea about football and what we are building – without being consistent or solid as a team you cannot achieve that.

(Image: Tony McArdle - Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images)

“For you to attack well, to be consistent and to play in our defensive part of the pitch, we cannot give a chance to opponents to play so easy on the counter attack to break us.

“This is the most important thing.

“We are now more settled and because of that we are attacking better, we are creating more chances and of course we are not giving big chances for opponents.

“We are working as a block, as a team. We are working at Finch Farm in the same way, but now we are more settled in the match also.”