David Moyes underlines Everton priority ahead of Liverpool clash — 'More important'

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The Everton boss spoke to the media on Friday before the Merseyside derby and admitted he takes little interest in Liverpool's results despite the clubs being separated by just five points in the table

David Moyes discussed Everton's priority ahead of the Merseyside derby(Image: Getty Images)

David Moyes said closing the gap to Liverpool in the European places is not his primary aim ahead of this weekend’s Merseyside derby.

The Reds head to the Hill Dickinson for the first time on Sunday, with both clubs locked in a battle to secure a Champions League spot. Liverpool is in the driving seat, placed fifth, four points ahead of Chelsea.

It’s then a five-point gap to Brentford and Everton in seventh and eighth respectively, with the unlikely contenders having outside shots of earning a place in Europe’s premier competition. But Moyes said ahead of Sunday’s derby that while he hopes to secure a continental finish, overtaking Brentford is his priority at this stage.

“All we can do is try and catch whoever is above us,” said the Scotsman, ahead of his 26th Merseyside derby.

“I think Brentford are the ones above us at the moment. They’re first, and we need to get whoever we can.

“Probably more important is to make sure we don’t let anybody catch us,” he continued. “If we stay in a strong position, we’ll give ourselves every chance of maybe getting something regarding Europe.

“Maybe, maybe not. We’ve got to try and fend off all the other clubs.

Moyes could guide Everton back to Europe this season(Image: 2025 Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA)

“With six games to go, we have something to play for,” Moyes added, contrasting this season’s European hopes to the relegation scarps of previous years.

“Over the recent few years, it has been the wrong things to play for. But this year, we’re getting a bit closer to the stuff you would hope to we would be involved in.

"I’m hoping we can keep that dream alive, and let’s see what happens.”

Asked if now is a good time to play Liverpool, Moyes replied: “I don’t watch Liverpool’s results and don’t have an awful lot to do with it.

“I look after Everton and my job is to try and see that we do as well as we can. I can only focus on and hope we can keep it going. We have six games to go and we’re in within a shout.”

Moyes also confirmed that Carlos Alcaraz stepped up his recovery from injury this week, meaning Jack Grealish is the only Everton player ruled out of Sunday’s game.

“Everyone is okay. Charly Alcaraz is back to full training. We’re as close as we can to full [roster] as we can.”