Ayegbeni Yakubu warned that Everton are determined to beat Liverpool to fourth place in the Premier League after Sunday's 3-1 win over Pompey.The Nigerian netted twice in a man-of-the-match display to lift the Toffees back above their fierce rivals, who beat Bolton by the same scoreline earlier in the day.

"We want to finish in fourth spot. We know Liverpool won today and we want to keep the pressure on Liverpool.

"We deserved the win and we played for each other and we got the three points we were looking for. We're so pleased about it."

Yakubu was quick to pay tribute to his team-mates for laying on his goals.

"We were fighting for each other. They're the ones who give me the ball to score," he added. "It's a good feeling when you have quality players like this."

Yakubu had given Everton a first-minute lead but Jermain Defoe levelled.

Tim Cahill restored the home side's advantage and said: "Portsmouth are a very good team, very strong, very physical.

"We had to work hard. We scored an early goal. We conceded a a bad goal but we prevailed in the end."

He also praised Yakubu, saying: "We worked hard for Yak and he works hard for us. If you find the Yak, he'll score.

"He's brought a balance to the team. I think we've lacked that in the last couple of seasons. He's on fire."

Manager David Moyes was delighted with his side's display. "We were very good. They have been for most of the season, they're improving all the time," he said.

"I thought it was an outstanding result for us.

"We got off to a fantastic start, then I thought we wasted three or four opportunities, half-opportunities, and in the end they came back to punish us.

"But overall I was pleased with the way we played."

Of Yakubu's contribution, Moyes added: "He scores goals wherever he is.

"He's doing more than that because he's actually a really good footballer as well."

On the race for fourth place, he said: "The crowd are bouncing here, we're in a great position at this time of the season, we know it's going to be tough to stay there, but we're certainly going to give it a good go."

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp praised his side's response to the early goal and insisted he believed they would go on to win.

He said: "Look at the way we came back. We started badly and then we got back - could you see them winning after an hour?

"After half-time, I expected us to go on and win the game. I thought we got stronger and stronger in the last 10 minutes of the first half."

However, the Pompey boss was not too downbeat, saying: "That is how it goes, overall we are not too disappointed."

Redknapp also praised Yakubu, who played for him at Fratton Park, saying: "We didn't pick him up for the first goal. He is a goalscorer, a good player. That is why they paid money for him."

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