Ronald Koeman remains resolute in Everton’s quest for European qualification, insisting ‘everything is possible’.
Goals from Idrissa Gueye and Romelu Lukaku helped the Blues maintain pressure on the Premier League’s higher reaches with a 2-0 win over Sunderland.
Four points separate Everton from Manchester United in the Europa League hunt while they are six points adrift of Arsenal in the final Champions League spot.
Both teams are yet to play this weekend but Koeman believes his side’s current momentum, now unbeaten in nine Premier League games, can spur them on.
He said: “The first situation for a football player is that you play for nothing.
“Yes, [you aim] for the highest position on the table, but I like to play for something until the end of the season.
“Okay, we know the first team behind us is West Brom. We have them at home in two weeks.
“Above us is still a gap but we know some teams need to play tomorrow or even teams like United after this weekend and maybe it’s never ended.
“Even when it’s five, six points it’s possible to reach them if we keep the momentum, if we keep a lot of clean sheets then everything is possible.”