Moyes hails Everton side after Toffees make mockery of Gerrard's Stoke jibe
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UPDATED:
19:24 GMT, 4 November 2012
David Moyes believes Everton are producing the highest-quality football of his decade-long reign at Goodison.
The Toffees climbed to fourth in the Barclays Premier League following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Fulham, yet left Craven Cottage deflated by the point.
Dominating throughout and creating chance after chance – 26 in total with 15 on target – they somehow failed to dispatch Martin Jol's side with Steve Sidwell rescuing a point in the 90th minute.
Main man: Marouane Fellaini celebrates after scoring against Fulham
Making a mockery of the claim by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard that they 'play like Stoke', they thrilled visiting fans with some electrifying football.
'This is the best we've played in my time here,' the Toffees manager said.
'I couldn't say yet if it's the best team because the side that finished fourth (2004-05) and got into the Champions League were very consistent, resistant and ground out results.
'This team has an awful lot of attacking options. We can score and create chances.
'I hope we're still pushing for top four at the end of the season, I don't know if we will be because of the quality you need to be there.'
Nikica Jelavic was the most wasteful of Everton's players but Moyes is unconcerned by the Croatian's dip in form.
The 27-year-old marksman has fired four goals in 10 matches so far this season, while last term he struck 11 in 16 following his January arrival from Rangers.
'If we keep giving him the opportunity to score goals, he'll come back because he's a really good goalscorer,' Moyes said.
Claim: David Moyes believes Everton are playing the best football of his reign
'In the second half of last season he was the one getting one or two goals and getting us out of sight
'At the moment we're missing his fire, but players go through different periods of form during the season.
'I've told him to keep going and that his goals will come.
'He's a really important player for us who made such a big difference last season.
'The team have improved so we're giving him chances to score. He will score, I have no doubt of that.'
Apart from Bryan Ruiz's seventh-minute free-kick and Sidwell's equaliser, delivered courtesy of a defensive lapse, Fulham were over-run throughout in a manner rarely seen at Craven Cottage.
Two well-worked goals from the magnificent Marouane Fellaini nudged Everton ahead and they should have been out of sight before Sidwell struck.
'Fellaini has taken the goalscoring on when we needed it. He's a really good player and was a handful at all times against Fulham,' Moyes said.
Leveller: Steve Sidwell earned Fulham a point against Everton on Sunday
'You need to get the points on the board and we missed the opportunity to do that.
'I've said 10 games is a good time to assess your start, and we've had a good start compared to our usual starts.
'We've had a couple of games where we've felt hard done by, but against Fulham we have ourselves to blame.'
Moyes removed substitute Victor Anichebe from his squad shortly before kick-off for reasons he refused to disclose.
Fulham boss Martin Jol had identified Everton as the benchmark for a club like the Cottagers and after yesterday that opinion had hardened.
'Everton are very difficult to play against. They play a long first ball, but after that they play possession, overlap and play one-twos,' he said.
'They play with a purpose and that's their style. I don't want to talk about other teams but even Stoke have a style, and it's different from Everton, believe me.
'There are so many top teams in England so it will be very difficult for Everton to finish in the top four.
'It's good to hear a top manager like David Moyes saying he wants to do that.'
