Liverpool FC still in Moyes´s sights

AFP - 7 April 2008 03:04

Everton´s Leon Osman. Everton manager David Moyes has promised his side won´t let up in their battle with city rivals Liverpool for fourth place in the Premier League and the final Champions League spot on offer to English clubs that goes with it

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Everton manager David Moyes has promised his side won't let up in their battle with city rivals Liverpool for fourth place in the Premier League and the final Champions League spot on offer to English clubs that goes with it.

Moyes's men stayed in touch with a 1-0 win over already-relegated Derby at Goodison Park on Sunday.

That left them in fifth place, three points behind Liverpool, with both Merseyside clubs having five league matches still to play this season.

But Liverpool's goal difference is plus 32 compared to Everton's plus 22.

Basement club Derby belied their recent form by making the home side work hard for their victory and it wasn't until Leon Osman scored in the 56th minute that Everton took the lead.

Nevertheless, defeat meant Derby set a new, if unwanted, Premier League record of 27 successive games without a victory.

"We are optimistic, we believe we can still catch Liverpool," Moyes said.

"That's 60 points and we have won 18 games in the Premier League, and with five to go we can end with a very healthy tally in an excellent position.

"We are having to push them towards the end of the season, to keep them going. It has been a long, hard campaign," the Scot added.

"It was not a terrific display, but we have had some great performances at home this season and are still in with a shout.

"It was a hard game, but the only thing important was three points and another victory.

"We can put pressure on Liverpool, and if we do that and win at Birmingham next weekend it will be our highest points tally in the Premier League, that is the first objective."

Derby manager Paul Jewell took consolation from a battling display.

"That was better, in fact it was not just a little better but miles better than when I first arrived," he said.

"I felt we deserved a point, we passed the ball really well and we lacked that bit of quality in the box. Maybe a bit of believe, and care at times. But the work we put in was good throughout.

"We took the game to Everton, we tried to attack and move the ball.

"Everton started hitting it long, which suited us. We kept the crowd quiet and just needed that little bit extra. We could have even won it, but it wasn't to be. But the lads were terrific."