Everton's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League have been dealt a major blow after Tim Cahill, their influential midfielder, was ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken metatarsal.

And although the news has rocked David Moyes' side just 48 hours before their vital Merseyside derby clash at Anfield, the Everton manager believes his team can cope without the Australian.

"He has a broken foot and I wouldn't expect him to play again this season," Moyes said. "It is disappointing but it happens. I think we can cope [with Cahill's absence]."

Liverpool's defeat to Manchester United last weekend means Everton could go ahead of their city rivals with victory on Sunday. However, although Everton have not won at Anfield since 1999, Moyes believes his team can end that run.

"There is no doubt it is an important game - Liverpool are fourth and we are fifth and we can go above them if we win it," Moyes said. "But there are games to play after that and there is still a lot of football to come."

"This week I feel it is the greatest fixture - it is the only one that matters to me," he added. "It might be the knock-out blow [in the race for fourth] but then again it might not be. There is a lot of football to play this time of year and you can never be sure.

"We have to make sure we get enough points so we are not caught up by the teams behind us and if we can get some valuable points from the remaining seven games then hopefully it might see us overtake Liverpool in fourth."

The Everton manager is yet to taste victory at Anfield although the stadium's special atmosphere is something he is relishing.

"It is a fantastic football stadium and has been long before I came to this city," he said. "It is a great footballing centre, a fantastic atmosphere, and I look forward to it."

Despite losing Cahill, Everton have been given a boost with the news that Andrew Johnson, the England striker, has overcome the groin injury which forced him to miss last weekend's 1-1 draw with West Ham United.