Liverpool, one of the pre-season title favourites, are facing a serious battle to retain their place among the Premier League's traditional leading quartet this season. Rafael Benitez's side have fallen behind Chelsea, Manchester Untied and Arsenal and must now deal with fierce competition from Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City for the fourth Champions League spot. And Moyes, speaking ahead of the 213th Merseyside derby, believes arch-rivals Everton would also have been up there challenging had injuries not ravaged the first half of their campaign. "We have got a really good group of players," said Moyes, who reaches the landmark of 600 games in management this weekend. "We have a squad I think could have competed for a place in the top four - but obviously we have been working with half a squad for most of the year. "We will just have to see what we can do in the second half of the season after a disappointing first half." Everton's season is now starting to turn around with Moyes' men now up to ninth on the back of a nine-game unbeaten league run. Moyes attributes the upturn in form to the return to action of several players and he has close to a full squad available for the short trip across Stanley Park. Playmaker Mikel Arteta is the latest name to return after a groin strain interrupted his comeback from a serious knee injury, while Joseph Yobo and Ayegbeni Yakubu are back from the African Nations Cup. Loan signings Philippe Senderos and Landon Donovan have also added competition for places and Moyes feels momentum is building at the right time. He said: "We have picked up in the last couple of months. It has been really good and the players have been performing really well. "They have played well in the games and shown a real desire to win them. I'm really pleased with how they have been going. "I think it is because of competition - players coming back from injury - and I think players are finding form as well and doing it doing it at the same time. "I wish they had done that earlier but I will take it while it is going." Everton were just four points above the relegation zone when the sides met at Goodison in November - a game won by Liverpool 2-0 - and the Reds were also under a cloud due to poor domestic and European performances. Liverpool's season has since lurched close to crisis - not least after their FA Cup elimination last month - but Moyes thinks too much has been made of their on-field disappointments. Recent statistics do not look too bad for Liverpool with the team unbeaten in seven Premier League games and just a point off the all-important fourth place. Moyes said: "There was a lot of clamour around Liverpool a month or so ago but they look as if they have steadied the ship and got some results. "They are getting on with their job but I have been concentrating on Everton and getting on with ours and making sure we are on a good run." Moyes, who began his managerial career with Preston, is proud of his achievement in reaching 600 games but admits he is unlikely to be able to savour it, or the fact it is a derby, this weekend. He added: "I don't know if you can go into a game and say you are going to sit back, enjoy it and look around. "In my mind you're concentrating, trying to get the best out of your team and make decisions. "But maybe in time, when I look back at the end of my career, I'll look back and say it was great to be manager in those games." And the Scot, who took charge at Everton in 2002 after four years at the Deepdale helm, is determined that will be some time off yet. "For me it still feels just like the first game," he said. "I'm still nervous and still keen to do well. "I'm glad but a lot of managers at the LMA [League Managers Association] have got to the 1,000 club. "I am still a long way off getting there but, fingers crossed, I'm going to keep going and try to."
