Everton aim to go level with Liverpool at Birmingham

Apr 11 2008

David Moyes aims to be a record-breaker tomorrow as he tries to heap more pressure on Liverpool in the race for fourth in the Barclays Premier League.

The Everton manager goes into the crunch game at relegation-haunted Birmingham almost certainly without his key playmaker Mikel Arteta.

But he has underlined just how vital the trip to St Andrews is as, with Liverpool not playing until Sunday, Everton can move level with their rivals.

Moyes said: “We are on 60 now and another win will make it the best-ever points total we have achieved in the Premier League.

“We have played really good football this season and made big strides in the way we want to play. That is why when things do not go as well as you had hoped for, you are more disappointed.

“It is difficult at this time of the season, but we need the points any way we can. By hook or by crook we must get these points.

“I’m looking forward to getting past the barrier of our previous points best, we need to. We need them to finish fifth, and if we have any intentions of finishing fourth we certainly need them.”

He added: “We know we need to win more games. We have five left and we need to do well in all of them.

“If we feel under pressure with Portsmouth being four points behind us, why shouldn’t Liverpool feel under pressure with us just three points behind them?

“That’s the way it is. Did I think we would have an easy run-in, not a chance. Blackburn, Portsmouth and Aston Villa will all be there at the death.

“It only needs one of them to win four out of five and everything can change.”

Moyes could also be without Leon Osman, who suffered a hip injury in training, while admitting concerns is over Arteta’s long-term fitness.

The Spaniard has been carrying an abdominal injury all season. It forced him off in Sunday’s win over Derby and he has not been able to train this week.

Moyes has spoken to West Ham manager Alan Curbishley, who has had a glut of abdominal and stomach muscle injuries to contend with from his own squad.

Curbishley feels the firmer pitches and the intensity of the top flight has been the cause of his own problems.

Moyes said: “I have had a chat with Alan, he has real concerns about some of his lads.

“But I feel Arteta arrived at our club with this injury when he joined. He has been playing with it, but it is a concern. He has been carrying it and he feels it has dragged his performances down.”

Moyes has also dismissed concerns over midfielder Steven Pienaar’s future, with doubts this week over the completion of his deal from Borussia Dortmund after a season on loan.

Moyes said: “As far as I have been told, Pienaar’s transfer has been agreed long ago. There is no problem with Borussia Dortmund, that end of it has been in place for months.

“From what I hear it is the fee to the agent that is the problem. From my point of view, it’s done.

“Steven has done well for us and has been one of the reasons we have played so much better football this season.

“We needed that skill. He is not the biggest, but if you want to buy a player who is big and strong and can play good football - I suppose I’m talking about (Cristiano) Ronaldo - then you must pay top dollar.

“Sometimes you have to look a little lower, and Steven has done everything we have asked of him.”

On the clash with Birmingham, Moyes added: “There’s never an easy game in the Premier League, whoever you play. Everyone has something to play for, be it sponsorship money or points to win things or just survive.

“Even Derby last week, already relegated, gave us a very difficult afternoon. The shackles were off and they did well.

“I like their manager Alex McLeish, he is a good guy and did well for Scotland. He will be sucking it all in at the moment and working out how to win Premier League games, but he is a clever man and he understands football.

“It will not have shocked him, what he has seen. But he will be wanting to get through this season and then attack it again next time around.”