EVERTON do not have a chance of breaking the domination of the Premier League’s big four without significant investment, according to former striker Paul Rideout.

For a number of years David Moyes’s men have been the next-best team after the group of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal but Rideout, who scored the winning goal in the 1995 FA Cup Final against Manchester United, said: “I don’t think Everton can break into the top four right now.

“They can’t maintain the situation they have got. They are treading water right now unless they get someone in who is willing to get five or six top players.

“And they have got to be able to get more fans in. If Everton don’t get the investment they definitely won’t get into the top four.”

Despite their lack of resources he is disappointed the club have not won a major trophy since his header was enough to beat United 14 years ago.

“It does surprise me the FA Cup was the last thing Everton won considering the squad they have had over the last five or six years and how well they have done in the league,” he said.

“You expect them to maybe win one of the cups and I thought they would have won something by now.”