“Had that chance gone in, then it would have been a different game.

“ We were on the front foot, but that’s the thing about football - sometimes you get the luck, and sometimes you don’t.

“The supporters at Goodison will have been disappointed with the result but I’m sure they’d be happy with the effort we put in.”

Pienaar was among the party that flew to Greece yesterday in preparation for tomorrow’s Europa League clash with AEK Athens.

Victory would secure Everton’s progress to the knockout stages of the competition, the confidence from which the midfielder believes can bolster their faltering Premier League campaign.

“The Liverpool result doesn’t help our position in the table at all, but in football you have a chance to right things quickly, and on Wednesday we have a chance to make things right,” said Pienaar.

“It will be a difficult game, but three points away from home would be a real morale boost ahead of the next Premier League game (against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday).

“Europe can help our league form. If we win in Athens, it can lift our spirits in the Premier League as well.”