The Race No-one Wants To Win - Are Everton Serious Top-five Contenders?

Everton person competed sporadically successful Europe passim nan 21st century, astir precocious successful 2017-18 erstwhile they featured successful nan Europa League.

They person not featured successful nan Champions League due since 1970-71, erstwhile it was known arsenic nan European Cup.

But eighth successful nan Premier League, conscionable 3 points disconnected nan apical 5 pinch 7 convention games to go, nan Toffees are successful superior contention to not only compete successful Europe but possibly moreover scope nan continent's apical competition.

Manager David Moyes was keen not to get carried distant pinch nan thought of Champions League shot astatine Hill Dickinson Stadium, but did not awkward distant from what being successful Europe would mean to nan club.

"I'd emotion to opportunity it was [a possibility] arsenic I'm trying to beryllium much affirmative than I would usually be, but for Everton to moreover beryllium successful nan operation for Europe is unbelievable, whether it is Conference League aliases Champions League," Moyes said.

"We were sitting present past twelvemonth conscionable opening to separator ourselves distant from relegation and still had tons of money to salary off, caller ownership and 10 aliases 12 players retired of statement - truthful for america to beryllium successful nan position we are now is conscionable great.

"I tin imagine, if we could perchance do it, what it would do for nan crowds present arsenic Evertonians are hopeless to get backmost amongst it."

Champions League shot mightiness person seemed for illustration a far-away dream for a nine who person spent much clip trying to debar relegation successful caller seasons, but nether Moyes they person enjoyed a resurgence that has almost made that dream a reality.

Speaking to BBC Sport nan Scot said a top-10 decorativeness would beryllium a "really bully year" and that they will "try and springiness ourselves a chance of getting successful nan European competitions".