David Moyes insists Everton should not be celebrating Premier League survival.
Ipswich’s defeat to Arsenal last weekend ensured Moyes’ side are mathematically safe to move into their new home at Bramley-Moore Dock as a top flight entity.
It marks a contrast to recent seasons, where the Blues spent their final weeks mired in relegation battles, some even going down to the penultimate and last match days.
But Moyes believes the club needs to begin broadening its horizons by aiming higher than simply maintaining its status on the English game’s biggest stage.
He said: “I’m glad I didn’t have that feeling of what it’s like being in the relegation battle right to the end.
“For the club, they’ll know more about it in recent years where it’s been going to the last day, for example.
“When I came in, I was really worried, thinking this could really go to the last couple of games, maybe having to win [the final game] at home.
“But I have to say the players have done such a good job, got it done early and got ourselves in a pretty strong position, which we want to build on and try to finish the season well.
“We shouldn’t be celebrating avoiding relegation, that’s far from it. The truth is we’ve got to try and aim for much bigger and much better than that.”
The Everton manager also confirmed that James Tarkowski is sidelined for the rest of the season after picking up a hamstring injury in the defeat to Manchester City.
“Tarky is out,” added Moyes.
“He’s going to be out for the rest of the season. He’ll have an operation on his hamstring.
“It’s a big blow because he’s been such a big part of what we’ve done so well in this period.
“We have Michael Keane available and will look at our options until the end of the season.”