David Moyes, the Everton manager, is desperate for three points from Sunday's Merseyside derby against Liverpool to keep alive his dream of another European adventure.

A win at Anfield would take Everton above Liverpool into fourth place, the last Champions League qualification spot. But Moyes, whose Everton side were knocked out in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup this season, would take some consolation from a fifth-placed finish which would secure the one remaining Uefa Cup place. The other two places in the competition will be taken by Tottenham Hotspur, the Carling Cup winners, and the eventual FA Cup winners.

"We really enjoyed being in Europe this term, and we were gutted when we went out. But that showed me that we want more of it, we need more of it," he said.

"We would really want to be in the 'big' competition now having had a run in the Uefa Cup. And there's a lot of things that can still change, with some strange results. But the Premier League has been like that this season at different times. It is a very exciting division, with as many as eight at the bottom fighting to avoid relegation, four or so at the top who are desperate to be in the Champions League and a few in the middle chasing Europe.

"We have four at home and three away, so I have to make sure that we win the majority of those at home and pick up some away. We aim to finish this season still fighting and interested in what we have been working all season for. We can only do our job in the battle with Liverpool. If we win it puts pressure back on Liverpool, but also on Aston Villa, Manchester City and Blackburn. It makes them feel it is getting harder and harder for them (to qualify for the Uefa Cup), every time we win.

"There is only one remaining Uefa Cup spot, the way it has worked out this season with Spurs winning the Carling Cup. If we can't quite get the Champions League, we have to take that final place in the Uefa Cup."