David Moyes has warned that Everton’s hopes of a top four finish will not happen overnight.
The Sunderland boss endured a dismal return to Goodison Park as his former club extended their current league run to nine games with a comfortable 2-0 win.
Ronald Koeman’s side remain in contention for a European qualification place this season with only six points separating them from fourth-placed Arsenal.
But Moyes, who took the Blues to the brink of the Champions League in 2005, anticipates that reaching Europe’s elite club competition will be a long-term project.
He said: “I don’t think it’s easy and I think it takes time to do it as well.
“I think a lot of clubs have been trying to be in the top four for year after year.
“I think Everton are making a big leap now to try and get there and it takes a bit of time.
“Yes, it might happen once but it is something that grows over time and I think Everton might need a bit of growing time for that chapter to come around.”