Martinez - “Nobody deserved to experience that"

Just when you thought this season couldn't get feasibly any worse, it did, and how.

Everton capitulated in horrendous style as they crumbled to a 4-0 loss at Anfield in the return leg of the Merseyside Derby. Here's what hapless manager Roberto Martinez had to say about the debacle.

"Nobody deserved to experience that - no fan or player deserved to be in that situation or chain of events. We need to move on quickly and repay our fans with a proper performance and showing in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

"That game is so close to us that I don't think we should dwell on this one for too long because you have to focus on Saturday. It was a horrible experience for everyone connected to the football club.

"We need to regroup and make sure we have that opportunity to give the fans what they deserve - a chance to get in the final.

"It was a game that probably changed on the two actions that we didn't defend well enough in the period before half time. Clearly we lost concentration. For the first 40 minutes we had a different focus, a different way about us. We gave them a soft cushion of two goals that just before half time was a massive blow."

On the straight red card that defender Ramiro Funes Mori received for his stamp on Liverpool forward Divock Origi, Martinez defended the Argentinian, saying there was no intent to injure there.

"We tried to regroup and the first action is the red card. From that point on the game becomes a non-event and a horrible, horrible experience especially with the big game we have around the corner.

"Ramiro tries to win the ball, that was his intent. He doesn't try to hurt the player or contact the player. It is a mis-timed challenge - it could have been a yellow card, it could have been a red card. I can understand why the referee gave it. Probably Ramiro got carried away with the emotion of the derby.

"Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. At half time we lost Gareth Barry through injury and then John Stones falls victim to illness with some stomach cramps. We already have Phil Jagielka injured in that position and we ended up with two midfielders in those positions.

"It's Gareth's groin so he is very doubtful. He felt it very close to half time so we'll see the extent of it. Maybe he came off at the right time."

So it looks like Stones will be okay for the Wembley game on Saturday, but could possibly see one of the midfielders deputizing in next to him at center half.