Everton boss David Moyes claims his team are simply rank outsiders in the race for European places. With seven games of their campaign remaining, eighth-placed Everton are now just three points behind Liverpool and Aston Villa in sixth and seventh in the Barclays Premier League.

The Toffees have lost just two of their last 17 games but Moyes fears their poor start to the campaign, when injuries hit them hard, has left them with just too much to do.

Moyes said: "I will have to look at it again because we have won a big game - Manchester City hadn't been beaten at home all season.

"But we are going to have to win a lot of the games to have any chance.

"We are playing catch-up and coming from miles behind everybody.

"I would probably say the same - let's see how the next game goes.

"This win gives us a better chance but I am sure we would still be rank outside underdogs with the bookies."

Moyes has certainly ruled out any prospect of challenging for a Champions League qualifying position.

Everton are still seven points behind Tottenham in fourth, having played a game more, and the Scot sees that gap as too big to bridge.

"Not this season," he said. "I have said all along if we could have had all our players for most of the season I might have thought so."