Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure says their points deductions has acted as motivation for the players.

Everton have been docked a total of eight points for breaches of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules, but have appealed against their second two-point deduction.

"We definitely feel the injustice from the Premier League to us," Doucoure told BBC Radio Merseyside. "But we said we just need to hit the ground running and win games.

"This sort of thing hurts but it is out of our control. We can only control what happens on the pitch. It makes the team connected.

"We just said 'guys it is a joke' and we have to play well and win games and move on.

"This season we have been hit by points deductions but last season was completely different in terms of the football."