IF Everton are going to claim a fifth place finish in the Premier League then a home win over a much improved Tottenham this Saturday is a necessity.

Manager Harry Redknapp has done brilliantly to turn Spurs’ fortunes around after their horror show in the first half of the season, to the extent that Spurs are among a bunch of sides pushing for that final European qualification spot.

But the Everton players have a double incentive to keep going. As well as an FA Cup final appearance at the end of the month, they are contesting a fifth place league finish with Aston Villa.

Some people may wonder whether there is any real significance in finishing fifth or remaining in sixth spot where the Blues currently lie.

Certainly there is only a small financial advantage from the Premier League and qualification to next season’s Europa League remains the same.

However, if I was still a player I would be desperate to finish in fifth place. It proves you are the best outside of the established wealthy ‘top four’ clubs.

And it would represent an amazing level of consistency for the Blues to finish there for a second successive campaign.

Like Everton, Spurs have plenty to play for. But I’d argue that an even greater incentive than the Europa League for the Tottenham players would be the fact that Redknapp will consider wholesale changes to his squad in the summer.