Everton boss David Moyes has no intention of walking out on the club following a wretched start to the season. Moyes has recently been linked with Newcastle and Tottenham, two clubs who are currently enduring a rougher ride than that of the Toffees.
The fact he has yet to sign a lucrative new contract has further stirred the gossipmongers who now have more to mull over in the wake of Everton's exit last night from the UEFA Cup at the first hurdle.
Coming just eight days after being dumped out of the Carling Cup by Blackburn, and on the back of three successive defeats at Goodison Park in the Barclays Premier League, these are tough times for Moyes.
But this is far from new territory for the feisty Scot who is eager to turn the tide currently flowing against his side.
A defiant Moyes said: "Who says when you come into football management that every year you're going to have a good year?
"We have had tough tests - all managers face difficult times, and I have had some.
"No one has a divine right to win football games. You have to earn the right to do so.
"Managers can get into situations where it can be hard, and I have had it before. That's your job.
"There's no manager in football who thinks they have an easy ride, that's for sure. That's part of it. But I want to stay."
But as to if and when he signs his contract, his response was a little cryptic, adding: "There might be as timescale, something might happen."
And then when asked to assure supporters he would stay at Everton, Moyes replied: "The supporters have known that for a long time."
The problem for Moyes is the supporters' patience may start to wear thin unless results and performances improve.
There was little to cheer at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne as Belgian champions Standard played a patient game early on before catching Everton on the break.
Axel Witsel gave Liege a 22nd-minute lead before Phil Jagielka took advantage of goalkeeper Aragon Espinoza's blunder in the 67th minute to give Everton hope.
But 11 minutes later Leighton Baines bundled over Milan Jovanovic in the area, and the Serbian delivered the final blow from the spot.
