EVERTON manager David Moyes believes his side will cope without Tim Cahill after revealing the influential midfielder will miss the rest of the season.
The news could not have come at a worse time for the Toffees as they prepare to go to Anfield for the 178th Merseyside derby tomorrow with the battle for fourth place hotting up.
Liverpool's defeat to Manchester United last weekend means Everton c
ould go ahead of their nearest rivals with a victory at Anfield, but Cahill's absence will be sorely felt. The 28-year-old has struggled for fitness in the past month and managed just 10 minutes in the 1-1 draw with West Ham last weekend before being substituted.
Moyes has accepted defeat in terms of the 10-goal midfielder featuring again this campaign.
"He has a broken foot and I wouldn't expect him to play again this season," said Moyes. "It is disappointing, but it happens. I think we can cope."
Cahill has played a key role for Moyes' side in terms of his goalscoring ability from midfield and to have him missing as they try to overhaul their local rivals on a ground where Everton have not won since September 1999 is a considerable blow.
"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," said Moyes, who has yet to enjoy victory over the Reds away from home. "But there are games to play after that and there is still a lot of football to come."
With the two neighbours both challenging for the final Champions League place, tomorrow's fixture has been built up as being the match which will decide the European fate of both clubs. Moyes refused to get drawn into the hype, insisting he just concentrates on the next game. "This week I feel it is the greatest fixture – it is the only one that matters to me," he added. "It might be the knockout 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're not caught up by the teams behind us. If we can get some valuable points from the remaining seven games then hopefully it might see us overtake Liverpool in fourth."
Everton are certainly overdue a win at Anfield, having been waiting since Kevin Campbell struck the only goal nine years ago. Since then, however, they have recorded just two wins at Goodison Park in their last 16 encounters across the Stanley Park divide.
GEORGE Gillett has revealed he has received death threats and his relationship with co-owner of Liverpool, Tom Hicks, "has been unworkable for some time".
Gillett also admitted that instead of selling his interest in the Anfield club, he may try to buy out Hicks.
He said: "The thing that angers fans the most is the prospect I might sell even one share to my partner.
"It's been very difficult for my wife. We receive many phone calls in the middle of the night threatening our lives.
So instead of selling, I might think about buying."
The full article contains 552 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
