LIVERPOOL fans may be tempted to think that two straight wins have put their team back on track.

But if Everton continue to play this well, the Reds may have to win the Champions League outright just to assure themselves of qualification for next season.

David Moyes' team beat Manchester City convincingly on Tuesday morning (Singapore time), racking up their 50th Premier League point and regaining the all-important fourth place.

Only Arsenal had won at The City of Manchester Stadium before this game, and Everton's ability to match that achievement cannot be underestimated.

The Toffees proved once again how far they have progressed under Moyes, with another performance that demonstrated their ability to mix silk with steel.

Yakubu Ayegbeni, in particular, was in ebullient form. Many commentators had written the Nigerian off as a tubby chancer, blessed in talent but cursed with lethargy.

Half a season at Goodison Park appears to have finally taught him that good things come to those who work occasionally.

His 16th goal of the season was a product of his newly-found determination.

With tackles flying in from all sides, he stood strong, played the ball out to a team-mate and charged into the box to continue the move.

His timing was perfect, and if anyone was still concerned by his late return from Africa, this will have soothed things over.

Yakubu brings more to this team than team-mate Andy Johnson. The Englishman's pace is blistering but he lacks the physical punch of Yakubu and this may not be the last time he is forced to start from the bench.

Everton hope to return to this stadium in May for the Uefa Cup final. And they are in such good form presently that you wouldn't bet against it.

Since their 4-1 drubbing against Arsenal in December, they're unbeaten in the league.

They were so comfortable here that they really could have scored two or three more, particularly if referee Rob Styles had been more generous with a brace of penalty appeals.

Manchester City were very poor, as they have been - Old Trafford aside - since Christmas.

SEASON

They appear to be re-enacting Sven-Goran Eriksson's entire England career in one season.

They started well, threatened to challenge for honours and, now, at crunch-time, they lack the potency and urgency that they once had in abundance.

It's all very strange. And if they don't snap out of it quickly, their only route into Europe will be the Inter-Toto Cup.

Martin Petrov, by far City's best player this season, managed to turn a disappointing night into a disastrous one by getting himself pointlessly sent off at the end of the game.

His hack on Leon Osman was just an act of petty frustration, but it will cost City dearly.

A three-match ban robs them of their most creative player and they're in such anaemic form that it's difficult to see where the goals will come from in his absence.

The only question hanging over Everton is how long they can keep this up.

They have to travel to Anfield at the end of next month for a game that will be pivotal in the race for the final Champions League place, but will they be able to fight a war on two fronts?

The later stages of the Uefa Cup will be a drain on their fitness levels and they don't have the same strength in depth as their neighbours across Stanley Park.

But Liverpool fans should remember that Moyes has beaten their team to fourth in the past and results like this indicate that he might just be able to do it again.