Everton boss Moyes refusing to give up on Champions League place

It means that Liverpool are now five points clear of their closest rivals in fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League, with both sides having six games left.

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Moyes, disappointed by the manner of the defeat which came from a goal virtually gifted to Fernando Torres, said: "Any team with a five-point advantage like Liverpool have now would feel confident.

"But I have to believe we can still catch them. From our point of view, the fight goes on.

"There are teams below us who believe they can catch us, and we feel the same about teams ahead of us, we can still catch Liverpool.

"What disappointed me most, though, was that we just didn't create anything. We did not have enough up front to really worry their defence.

"But this team of mine will get better. We have had a wonderful season and to be in fifth place is still a major achievement."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was equally pragmatic and maintained that the battle was not over yet.

Torres, scoring in his sixth successive home match, equalling a club record, also won praise from boss Benitez, who said: "We must admit that we are surprised by how well Fernando has settled here.

"We knew he was a great player, one of the best strikers in Europe, but for him to score 28 goals in his first season for the club is very impressive."

Liverpool hit back from the disaster of losing 3-0 at Manchester United last weekend, and the uproar following Javier Mascherano's dismissal at Old Trafford.

Benitez said: "We needed to show discipline, that was very important, as well as being well organised.

"We were put under some pressure after the break, but we showed character throughout.

"However, I do not believe that we are sure of fourth spot just yet.

"We are at Arsenal next Saturday and that will be tough, while Everton are at home to Derby. Things can change around very quickly."

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Benitez made a point of being critical, also, of personal chants from Everton fans aimed at Steven Gerrard, and said: "These are things you do not want to hear at a football match, I was very disappointed."

Moyes declined to comment on the chanting, and expressed his own disappointment at the way Everton conceded the winner to Torres, and Ayegbeni Yakubu's error that cost his side dearly.

Moyes said: "I was disappointed by the way we gave them their goal, and I think Yakubu was upset and maybe affected himself by what happened.

"He was caught in possession and should have cleared the ball. But we should not have rushed out like we did until we knew the ball had been cleared properly.

"We were in advance of the ball at that stage, and that was naive.

"That goal gave them the impetus to go forward, and we had to hang in there until the break. But we did that without conceding another goal.

"And we gave it everything after the break. But we were without so many attacking players injured, and also missing Tim Cahill for the same reason, and he is someone who could have been used in support of Yakubu."

Moyes also revealed that teenage striker Victor Anichebe was taken to hospital after falling ill on Thursday.

Moyes said: "We think he may have picked up something while he was away playing for Nigeria in the week, he is still in hospital and will continue to have tests next week to find out what is wrong."