Koeman keeping Toffees sweet on European target

LIVERPOOL, England - Everton manager Ronald Koeman has not given up on a late Europa League challenge after the Toffees' 2-0 win over Sunderland at Goodison Park on Saturday.

A brilliantly worked first-half finish from Idrissa Gueye opened the scoring before Romelu Lukaku's late strike sealed victory.

The seventh-place Toffees are four points behind Manchester United and four adrift of Liverpool, which occupies fifth, the Europa League qualifying spot. West Bromwich Albion is eighth, four behind Koeman's men.

"The worst situation for a player is playing for nothing," said Koeman.

"I like to play for something until the end of the season. We know the team behind us is West Brom, which we play at home in two weeks, and above there is still a gap.

"We know teams still need to play after this weekend and maybe it's not ended. Even with five or six points, it is possible to reach them. If we keep the momentum, then anything is possible."

Lukaku's goal took his Premier League tally for Everton to 60, equaling club legend Duncan Ferguson's total.

The Belgian's finish was his eighth in five matches at home this year.

Lukaku has been the Merseysiders' most potent weapon for the past 18 months, and Koeman believes he can improve even further.

"We know he needs to work hard. We know one of his big qualities is scoring goals," said Koeman.

"He is strong, fast and he is one of the best. I think he can improve his runs and give options to midfield players and defenders."

Gueye's 40th-minute opener lit up a drab first half as the Senegalese swept home Seamus Coleman's cross following a fine Tom Davies through-ball.

Sunderland's Jermain Defoe crashed an effort against the crossbar with 15 minutes left, shortly before Lukaku held off Bryan Oviedo to bundle home a second.

Bottom-of-the-league Sunderland was dreadful for most of the contest despite a recent trip to New York aimed at rejuvenating its legs and minds.

There seems little chance the Black Cats can avoid relegation and the loss would have been extra hurtful for manager David Moyes considering his 11-year reign as Everton boss.

Agence France-Presse