Football: Koeman hopes League Cup win over Sunderland has ended Everton slump

Everton's Dutch manager Ronald Koeman gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on Sept 17, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON (REUTERS) - Everton Manager Ronald Koeman is hoping Wednesday's (Sept 20) 3-0 League Cup win over Sunderland will lift his team's spirit when they host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

Everton spent heavily during the transfer window but are yet to reap dividends, losing four games in a row in all competitions without scoring before beating Sunderland, who are fourth-bottom in the Championship.

"Everybody knows we are in a difficult moment and scoring goals and winning games is the best medicine to get our full confidence back," Koeman told British media after the match.

"Let's hope the result tonight and the way that we played gives us a boost for Saturday."

Everton have struggled up front after selling Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United, winning just one of their first five league games to lie third-bottom in the table, a point and a place above Bournemouth.

Koeman was particularly pleased by the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored twice, and Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who got Everton's third on his first appearance this season.

The decision to start Calvert-Lewin gave Everton an injection of pace up front, with the 20-year-old making a strong case to keep his place against Bournemouth, and Koeman is expecting big things from the England youth international.

"He's always in my mind," the Dutchman said.

"He's still a young player, 20, and sometimes you need to protect him. But he's a good player and he will be stronger, he will be faster, he will be better.

"He's doing well and he's a good boy, but we have other players in that position as well."

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