Everton too good to go down, says Tim Cahill

Everton are in the crest of a slump in the Premier League at the moment and the noises coming from Goodison Park are not good.

Sunday's 2-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool in the 212th Merseyside derby has left the Toffees just three points above the drop zone after just one win in their last eight Premier League matches, something which might impact on Everton's relegation odds.

The Toffees are struggling with a crippling injury list, but with only a third of the season gone star forward Tim Cahill is already looking down rather than up.

Cahill said: "I think that's the best we've played in a while. Our passing was good, we made lots of space with our movement and had two disallowed goals.

"We were strong from corners too. It's hard to take but at this stage it's not going to get any easier.

"We're in a lot of trouble - the only way we can get out of it is by playing and working our way out of it.

"We're too good to be in this position."

Everton boss David Moyes will be hoping the fatal "we're too good to go down" words will not come back to haunt the club and Aussie star Cahill, but it's certainly a phrase which has seemed to be the "kiss of death" in recent seasons.

In February 2009 Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said the same about the Toon.

Shearer said: "I look at those clubs staring at the drop and I can't see goals in a lot of them.

"But I can see goals in this Newcastle team and that's why I believe it is too good to go down - and won't."

Shearer, who then went on to manage the Geordies, was unable to keep the North-East giants up and they were relegated into the Championship.

There is certainly a similarity between the two clubs and Cahill will be hoping for a better outcome than Newcastle's fateful 2008/09 campaign.

In other sports news, the odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2010 are in full swing.