Moyes eager to grab group spot

Toffees boss hoping to kick-start campaign

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 1st October 2008

Moyes eager to grab group spot

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David Moyes is hoping Everton can get past Standard Liege and put their inauspicious start to the season behind them.

The Toffees have lost all three of their Premier League home games and were knocked out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle by Blackburn last week.

Moyes' men twice had to come from behind to claim a 2-2 draw in the home leg against Standard Liege, meaning Everton must win in Belgium on Thursday to make it into the Uefa Cup group stage for the second successive year.

"We know a draw for them will suffice and that we have to win the game by a goal - some way or other we have to do that," said Moyes.

"But we also know how quickly things can change. That's what this game can do for you, and that's what we're hoping will happen.

"We hope we're only 90 minutes away from good times again. That's the plan."

Everton were surprisingly held 1-1 at home by Metalist Kharkiv at the same stage of the competition last season.

The Toffees won 3-2 in Ukraine to progress and eventually reached the last 16 before being knocked out by Fiorentina on penalties.

But manager Moyes knows they face a different proposition in Standard, who almost took Merseyside rivals Liverpool to penalties before dropping into the Uefa Cup.

"There are a few similarities this season compared to last season, especially with the first game at Goodison being a draw," he said.

"A lot of people thought we might get through against Kharkiv, who were a really good team.

Challenge

"But Standard have shown they are a real quality side with their performances, so it will be a difficult challenge.

"We always knew it was going to be tough anyway after watching them almost put Liverpool out of the Champions League.

"We know we've given ourselves a hard task, but we were very good away from home last year. We will use that as motivation for the players, that they can do it again.

"This competition is really important for us and we want to stay in it. It was good for us last year when we talked highly of it, so I'm not going to talk it down now.

"I enjoyed it, I think the players enjoyed it, and we would really like to get through again."