• Moyes: ‘We do not use the word revenge but pride is at stake’
• ‘We have to play much better than we did in Lisbon’

David Moyes is determined that Everton will restore their battered reputation when Benfica arrive at Goodison Park tomorrow after thrashing his side 5-0 in Lisbon.

That was Everton’s heaviest loss in continental competition and the scars are still healing. However, they remain among the favourites to progress from Group I in the Europa League, and their unbeaten home run at this level stretches to an impressive nine games.

Moyes said: “We do not use the word revenge but pride is at stake. We are hurting from the Benfica game and the result.

“Hopefully, we can do something about it. We want to progress in the group, that is the important thing. It is great we are talking about expectations in Europe because that has not been the case for a long time.

“We are going to have a go and get a result. A point would not be a bad thing the way the group is going. The key is to qualify: that’s our aim and we could find ourselves closer to that target tomorrow. But we have to play much better than we did in Lisbon.”

Even though Benfica are without a victory in seven European matches on the road, Moyes is not underestimating his opponents.

He said: “I think they will play the same way as they did at home. There are a really good side. They may well topple Porto, who have dominated for years, and win the league.

“We do know the dangers Benfica pose and it is not easy to stop them. However, I hope we can cause them some problems on our own ground.”

Everton’s American goalkeeper Tim Howard is desperate to put that mauling by Benfica to bed. “Qualifying for Europe has been important for us. We feel there is some prestige in it,” he said. “They have revamped it more like the Champions League format and I think they have done a pretty good job.

“There will be some big teams coming into the knockout stages, dropping down from Champions League, so for me it is special. Playing in England is the tops and playing internationally is what every player wants. Hopefully, I can continue to get better at every level.”

Howard added: “Different managers have put out different sides in Europe with the Premier League in mind. Our manager tries to put out his strongest team in every competition. We take it very seriously.”

Moyes will be again down on numbers as John Heitinga and Lucas Neill are both ineligible. Louis Saha (calf) and Tony Hibbert (flu) are doubtful but the influential Steven Pienaar could be on the bench after a knee problem.

Meanwhile Everton’s Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta has had a setback in his recovery from a serious knee injury. Arteta snapped a cruciate ligament during the match against Newcastle in February.

He was expected to step up his rehabilitation in the next month only to suffer an infection in the injury. Moyes said: “We have had to wash out the knee. It is a setback but I cannot say for how long.”

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