Everton gained a valuable point in Krasnodar in the Europa League on Thursday, with a battling 1-1 draw leaving the Toffees two points clear at the top of Group H.
However, replicating Saturday's Anfield derby draw, the arrival of a late goal merely masked the deficiencies preceding it. Much like in several, if not all, of their performances this season, Everton struggled thanks to a vicious self-inflicted cycle. At their best when pressing the opposition and imposing their passing style on the match, the pressing has become strangely nonexistent, and teams can bypass the first line of defence with alarming ease.
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The Krasnodar goal typified the pressure problems, while this new-found half-hearted approach leaves the defence exposed and vulnerable to teams pressing high up the pitch, as Krasnodar did on Thursday and Chelsea did so destructively on their visit to Goodison in August.
Everton cannot continue in this vein, not with a trip to Manchester United around the corner. If the lack of pressure and failure to track back is not a tactical ploy, Roberto Martinez has to enforce his will on slack players; if it is a tactical ploy, it has to end.
Furthermore, when those in blue finally regain possession, compounding the failure of the attacking players from a defensive standpoint is their anonymity in the opposing half. On occasion, Gareth Barry seems to be the only player ahead of the back four actively seeking possession.
That is the cycle, as tired defenders have to force unlikely passes due to minimal options, resulting in the loss of possession. Then the cycle starts over, as it did throughout the first half in Russia, with the sparse cover leaving the defence trapped on the edge of their penalty area.
This dangerous inability to retain the ball must cease on Sunday. Although without Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley -- the much-missed Steven Pienaar should return -- it is going to be another tough test in a week presenting three of them.
Those three players are the creative hub of this side, and the absence of two, maybe all three, is a huge blow. Their ability to provide an outlet for an overworked defence is just as valuable as their creative quality on the ball, particularly in away games such as this.
It may not carry the fear of old, but the home of United is still not a ground on which the visitors can afford to gift cheap possession, especially with the rapid Angel Di Maria able to supply a wealth of attacking talent beyond him. How Martinez copes without key players will be vital, with Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy potential absentees. Many of those filling the void created by the injury list have underwhelmed thus far, with Steven Naismith being the obvious, goal-scoring exception.
Aside from the Swansea exit in the Capital One Cup, Tony Hibbert has not let anyone down on his return, but the gulf between him and Coleman is vast. Coleman is vital, and the sooner he returns the better.
Likewise, in his absence on Thursday it became clear how important McCarthy is -- and even more so given the current disjointedness of the side. Without his ceaseless energy and drive in midfield, the centre of the team looked instantly weaker and considerably slower.
In their quest for victory, Everton will look to channel last season's corresponding fixture when Bryan Oviedo grabbed the only goal to end a 21-year drought. As the full whistle blew, it was rather fitting that David Moyes, the man overseeing years of royal blue surrender in this fixture, should be the man in charge of United when Everton finally broke free from their shackles.
For once, there was belief. The sight of stand-in left-back Oviedo scoring the winner from inside the penalty area underlined the refreshing attacking intent. Aside from a 4-4 draw derailing United's title challenge the other year, there was rarely any ambition, with Everton opting for a stubborn, dull containment policy ending in inevitable defeat.
Moyes also rued the return fixture, with a 2-0 defeat at Goodison signalling the end of his brief tenure. Under Louis van Gaal, the home side will be a more attacking, formidable prospect, but the visitors can find joy from one of the few defences in the league looking as brittle as their own.
For that to happen, though, the Blues must start performing as a unit, working together in all aspects to return to the success of last season. As good as this group can be, they can't afford to let sections of the team coast through matches.