Moyes banishes Merseyside Cup chat

The lure of facing Liverpool at Wembley has caught the imagination of the city, but Moyes is understandably cautious about looking too far ahead. “It’s an irrelevance until the game’s over,” said Moyes. “I’ve hardly thought beyond going up to Sunderland and making sure we try and get a good result. “That job’s big enough without thinking of anything else. I wouldn’t dream of getting ahead of myself, not with playing such a good side in a replay. I don’t think the fans are thinking past it either. “I can’t think any further than going up to Sunderland and giving them all the respect. There’s no point thinking about anything else until this game is won or lost.” Everton are in the midst of a punishing schedule that will absorb five games within 17 days. The Goodison manager is displeased with the fixture planning but recognises the need to keep the season alive in the Cup rather than allow it to drift in mid-table. “I expected that question: is this make or break? It’s the same question being asked to all the managers who are in the Cup,” said Moyes. “It is a game that we are desperately keen to get through and get to a semi-final, but there are big games in the league as well. This game definitely taken precedence. “It definitely keeps the buoyancy going and if we can stay in it the end will take care of itself. This game is of major importance because it’s the next one and we can progress to the semi-final. “I don’t think the season would be over on Wednesday even if we don’t get through. We are on the tails of one or two above us so we can try and finish strongly in the league as well, but this is a big game. Getting through is really important for us.” Moyes will be without Steven Pienaar, who is cup tied, but believes another January signing, Darron Gibson, is showing signs that he will be the latest to revive his career on Merseyside. “I’m expecting him to up it again but he’s someone who has not played a lot of football,” said Moyes. “He’s made a decent contribution for a boy who has been out and we hope in time he will work out well for us.” Sunderland (4-4-2): Mignolet; Bardsley, Kyrgiakos, Turner, Bridge; Larsson, Cattermole, Vaughan, McClean; Sessegnon, Bendtner.