Everton boss David Moyes has made it clear the Toffees are not ready to abandon their European ambitions, even as recent results have nudged them towards the edges of the qualification race.
Only a fortnight ago, Everton were knocking on the door of sixth place.
However, momentum stalled after a home defeat to Bournemouth, followed by Monday night disappointment against Manchester United.
Those setbacks have left Moyes’ side ninth, three points adrift of seventh-placed Brentford.
The road ahead looks unforgiving. After Saturday’s trip to Newcastle United, Everton face a daunting run that includes clashes with Arsenal, Chelsea, Brentford, Liverpool and Manchester City within an eight-game stretch.
Form at Hill Dickinson Stadium has been a stumbling block, with just four home wins all season denting their charge. Still, Moyes is refusing to lower the bar.
“We’re not quite ready to give up our ambition to make Europe,” he said. “We are going to try and keep going for it, why would we not?
“I could easily turn up here and say ‘By the way, we’re having a pretty comfortable season so let’s forget about it’, but it’s the opposite. We are definitely trying to keep pushing.”
As Everton attempt to stay in the race, Moyes also confirmed a setback in midfield, revealing Charly Alcaraz is expected to be sidelined for “three to four weeks” after picking up an injury in training last weekend.
The message from Goodison Park is clear: the fixtures may be fierce, but Everton’s belief in a European finish is still very much alive.
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