Liverpool midfielder Emre Can believes his side are back to their best after the mid-season slump that derailed their title bid.
A comfortable 3-1 victory in the 228th Merseyside derby on Saturday made it 10 points from the last 12 and strengthened their spot in the top four.
“It has not been secured, but it is our target to play in the Champions League,” Can said.
“December, January and February was not our best football but now we are back, we did it in the last couple of games.
“It was very important to win that game. There are still eight games to go and we have to keep it up.”
Liverpool did not have to be at their best against Everton, whose last victory at Anfield came in 1999.
Visiting manager Ronald Koeman tried to compensate for the loss of right-back Seamus Coleman to a broken leg and centre-half Fumes Mori to a season-ending knee injury by switching to a three-man defence.
But they struggled to contain a Liverpool side in which Philippe Coutinho, who scored one and made another, was in fine form.
And manager Jurgen Klopp said: “It was a world-class goal, another fantastic finish.
“He had a really, really good game and he was not happy when I took him off.”
The result put four points between Liverpool and fifth-placed Manchester United, who were held to a goalless draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.
Klopp, however, is taking nothing for granted and said: “We will fight for everything. I thought the players showed again that they are ready to fight for everything,” he added.
“Hopefully we can stay in this optimistic mood and can get there.”
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