His team are chasing their second top-four finish in four seasons, yet David Moyes, the Everton manager, believes that it could take a further five years before he establishes the club as a force alongside Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Moyes celebrates his sixth anniversary in charge of Everton tomorrow against Fulham, the club who provided him with his first test as a top-flight manager. On March 16, 2002, goals by David Unsworth and Duncan Ferguson secured a 2-1 win at Goodison Park to ease Everton's relegation fears. Today, 274 games on, Craven Cottage is the venue for Moyes's anniversary match, with Everton trying to repeat their feat of 2005, when they finished fourth, ahead of Liverpool.

“The first six years have gone quite well,” the 44-year-old Scot said, “but it might be another five years before you can actually draw level. That's how long it might be. You think you're not far, but until you attempt it, it could be massive.”

Moyes is the third longest-serving manager in the Barclays Premier League, behind Sir Alex Ferguson, of Manchester United, and Arsène Wenger, of Arsenal. Moyes said that he has endured some “rocky” moments over the past six years, yet he believes that Everton are reaping the rewards for their stability.

“When I first arrived I had to freshen the play up, change the thoughts around the club and how people looked at Everton from the outside,” Moyes, whose side lost on penalties to Fiorentina in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup on Wednesday, said. “I hope after six years now people look at Everton completely differently. Now is the best I've felt about the team and the club. There's been definite progress. We don't want to be a club that's a home for old players at the end of their careers. I want us to be a young, vibrant club.”

Everton have not won away to Fulham in eight attempts, since Alan Ball scored the winning goal in 1966.