Steven Gerrard sends warning to Arne Slot and Liverpool with Everton prediction

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has praised Everton's chances of securing European soccer, saying the Blues are likely to "sneak into the back door" and put pressure on Liverpool, Chelsea and Brentford in the race for European spots

Steven Gerrard has offered his opinion(Image: Getty Images)

With nine matches remaining in the Premier League campaign, Everton finds itself firmly in contention for European qualification.

The team's 2-0 triumph over Burnley at home on Tuesday left it just one point behind seventh-placed Brentford, two adrift of sixth-placed Chelsea, and five shy of Liverpool in fifth. Admittedly, the Toffees face a challenging fixture list with home encounters against Chelsea, Liverpool and second-placed Manchester City following a trip to table-topping Arsenal in their next outing.

However, if they can secure additional victories at Hill Dickinson Stadium and sustain their impressive away record, then manager David Moyes could well realize his goal of guiding the club back into Europe.

With spots in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League all available, it could prove immensely thrilling for Evertonians.

And they have received backing to claim a European berth from the surprising source of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard, arguably the finest player alongside Kenny Dalglish in Anfield folklore and a tormentor of the Blues in Merseyside derbies, heaped praise on Moyes and his former adversaries following their victory over Burnley.

Arne Slot is under pressure to turn Liverpool's season around(Image: Getty Images)

"Yeah, really good [season]," the ex-midfielder told TNT Sports. "David Moyes has been brilliant for Everton. They've done really well, I'm sure they're going to sneak into the back door for those European places.

"We know he likes the Conference League. He's done it before, so I think they are going to put the pressure on the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Brentford."

While Brentford had to accept a goalless stalemate at ninth-placed Bournemouth on Tuesday and Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat at bottom club Wolves, Chelsea triumphed 4-1 at Aston Villa on Wednesday to climb above the title holders into fifth.

This means Everton is now five points adrift of both Chelsea and Liverpool; the Reds slipped to sixth following the result at Villa Park.

Moyes' players return to action on March 14 away to Arsenal before hosting Chelsea and then heading to Brentford and welcoming Liverpool to Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time, in what is a four-match sequence that could ultimately determine their season.

Everton is examining possibilities to hold a warm-weather training camp abroad before the resumption of its Premier League commitments, but the team will not be heading to the Middle East, as it did last year.

Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, is understood to have been one destination under consideration. Moyes took his squad to the UAE for a similar trip at the end of February last year.

However, a journey to that part of the world has been ruled out after the outbreak of war over the weekend, when the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran.

The United Arab Emirates is one of several countries in the region that have since been hit in retaliatory action.