LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - David Moyes believes Everton will have to get past the best goalkeeper in England if they are to push Portsmouth out of the race for a place in next season's Champions League on Sunday.

The form David James has displayed for Pompey this season has already earned him an England recall and Everton boss Moyes was more than happy to back up Fabio Capello's judgement of the 37-year-old.

"He has been the outstanding goalkeeper in the country," Moyes said. "He has matured with age and his goalkeeping has got better.

"He is hard to beat, he gives a steadying influence at the back and they trust him."

Portsmouth are six points adrift of fourth-placed Everton and will effectively have to lower their sights to the UEFA Cup if they lose on Sunday.

For Harry Redknapp, the match will mean a reunion with Nigerian forward Aiyegbeni Yakubu, a player he was responsible for bringing to England.

The Portsmouth boss admits he wishes he still had the powerful striker in his side.

"Everton are very strong, in great form and Yakubu is on fire at the minute.

"He looks fantastic for them. People have criticised him, but he has banged in 15 goals in about 24 games, and every year he guarantees you 20 goals."

Portsmouth sold Yakubu to Middlesbrough during the year that Redknapp spent managing Southampton and Redknapp did not have the funds to buy him back when Everton paid 11.25 million pounds for him at the start of this season.

"I said that Everton paid too much but I was just trying to get him cheaper," Redknapp recalled. "I felt he wanted out of Middlesbrough and felt there was a cat and mouse game going on, and that maybe he would end up around eight million.

"I was wrong and, in the end Everton did a deal, but he is a goalscorer and he will always score goals."

Redknapp admitted that a defeat would end his side's lingering hopes of a top four finish.

"You can't see us pulling back nine points on them at this stage of the season. They have a chance of finishing fourth the way they are going but for us to even be talking about it is almost beyond belief when you think where we were not long ago."

Redknapp is expected to play Jermain Defoe up front as the former Spurs striker is cup-tied for the following Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.

Winger John Utaka could start for the first time since January 1 but midfielder Pedro Mendes will be missing with a foot injury.

Everton may have to do without Mikel Arteta, who has been dogged by a groin problem all season. Although Moyes does not believe surgery will be necessary, the Spanish midfielder may have to be rested this weekend.

Moyes said: "I don't think it's going to need surgery, that is what I have been told by the medical team. He has played a lot of the season with the injury and it has not forced him to rest too much.

"He could just do with missing a few games here and there; he wants to be involved as well, he has got through now for quite a while, so I see no reason why he shouldn't get through the remaining eight to 10 weeks of the season."