“It could have been quite easily been moved but for the decision to screen Arsenal v Liverpool on the Wednesday. That’s the support you get for trying to put out your strongest teams in as many competitions as possible. If I was Carling, I would question the people running the competition.”

The combination of the team’s indifferent form and the relentless fixture list has led Leighton Baines to declare “nobody’s place is safe” in Moyes’s line-up.

“It’s a tough schedule,” said the left-back. “We go to Benfica now and we know it’s going to be a really tough game. Then there’s a quick turnaround and we play Sunday and then Tuesday, and they are all away games. It’s a lot of travelling.

“There are a lot of games in a short space of time and the manager will be looking to change people around.

“But because of the way we are playing at the moment, nobody’s place is safe.

“Our European form has been somewhat different. We’re almost playing a different style of football in Europe, we’re passing the ball and playing some nice stuff.

“Unfortunately, we can’t seem to be able to transfer that to the league games. Of course, it’s very different in the Premier League but hopefully our European form can help give us more confidence in the league.”

Meanwhile, Everton are making plans to arrange a pre-season home friendly with Chilean counterparts Everton Vina del Mar next summer.

Chief executive Robert Elstone said: “Pre-season games are a big financial opportunity for us and we have to maximise the commercial possibilities of them. I’m not sure going to Chile would do that.

“But there’s an open door (for Everton Chile) to come here and play a pre-season game sometime here at Goodison. We’ll work hard to try and bring it about.”