DAVID MOYES has slammed the Carling Cup organisers for the tie that has forced Everton to play three pivotal games inside five days.

The Goodison outfit fly out to Lisbon this morning for their Europa League clash against Benfica tomorrow evening.

After the Estadio da Luz encounter, Everton travel to Bolton Wanderers on Sunday before another long trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup two days later.

And Moyes is unhappy that the latter has been arranged because of television demands.

Liverpool also visit North London in the fourth round of the competition to take on Arsenal next week, and that game has been chosen for live coverage on the Wednesday.

However, London Metropolitan Police won’t allow both games to be played on the same day while Merseyside Police do not want rival supporters to travel to the capital on trains on same day.

It means Everton must travel to White Hart Lane barely 48 hours after the trip to the Reebok.

And Moyes said: “My philosophy has always been to try and put our best teams in whatever competition we enter but I find the lack of respect we have been shown by the Carling Cup organisers really disappointing.

“We have been asked to play Tottenham at White Hart Lane on a Tuesday night after playing the previous Thursday and Sunday at Benfica and Bolton respectively.

“I am aware that other clubs will have a similar scenario but they haven’t got games on Thursday and again on the Sunday.