Everton aiming to apply the pressure in European chase

David Moyes urged Everton to “keep pushing” in their quest for European football, after boosting their hopes with victory over Burnley.

The Toffees prevailed 2-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium to move within two points of the Premier League’s top six, thanks to goals from James Tarkowski and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Everton last appeared in European competition during the 2017-18 season, while Moyes oversaw four continental campaigns during his first spell at the club between 2002 and 2013.

The Scotsman’s only major trophy of his managerial career came when he guided West Ham to Conference League glory in 2023, and he would love another adventure in Europe.

“It would be amazing if we could even get close, which we are,” Moyes told TNT Sports.

“I just look back at my time at West Ham. We were almost relegated, and then we went on to get into Europe, and did it three years in a row after that.

“The idea is we want to keep pushing. I try not to talk about it if I can help it, but I want to be positive to think we can do it.”

Moyes told BBC Sport: “I want to be positive, and I want to believe and I want the players to believe.

“I have said to them right at the start, that should be what we aim for if we can try and do it. It’s getting closer.

“I’m not saying we can do it and I’m not saying we cannot. We’re not being talked about as a club that’s in relegation and falling away. We actually think we’re a club that’s making progress and we can start tickling the top teams and putting them under a bit of pressure.”

Everton also ended a run of six Premier League home games without victory, and Moyes highlighted the significance of getting back to winning ways on home soil.

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— Everton (@Everton) March 3, 2026

“It’s a really important win,” Moyes added. “I keep saying our away supporters have been treated great!

“We’ve not been doing so well for the home support, but they were with us, they recognised how well we were doing and applauded the players who came off with the work they had put in.

“We played really well with the ball. We kept it well, moved it well and recovered it well when we had to.”

Meanwhile, Burnley remain in 19th place and eight points from safety with nine matches remaining in the quest to retain their Premier League status.

In fact, with Wolves beating Liverpool, Burnley are now only three points above bottom place.

The Clarets did not register a shot on target until the 79th minute, and Scott Parker acknowledged his side were not at the races.

“We fell short in many aspects, partly down to the quality Everton showed and the quality they had. That was clear for us to see,” he said.

“We were never in the game from start to finish. A lot of things are going through my mind at this moment in time, we just looked second-best to a lot of things and lacked real quality with the ball.

“We never laid a glove on them in the first half and fell short.”