David Moyes aims to stop the manager he believes has a real "knack" of transforming sides from denying Everton a place in the UEFA Cup.Toffees boss Moyes has plenty of admiration for the job Martin O'Neill has done at Aston Villa but will be determined to stop the midlanders moving above them into fifth place when the sides clash in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Goodison Park showdown could decide who qualifies for the UEFA Cup, with Villa the team in form and Everton struggling with one league win in their last six.

Moyes said: "Villa have done really well, but they have not been far away all season. Martin has a knack of putting together good teams and turning situations around.

"But there are still games to go, things could still change as we get to the end of the season.

"Martin has got together a strong team, in his first full season he has done well there. And I can see them improving again next season too.

"But our record at Goodison Park has been very good this season, we have to maintain that and we need to perform well."

If Everton win they will be six points clear of Villa with two games to play. If they lose, Villa's better goal difference will take them above the Toffees.

Moyes said: "If we can win, it would see Everton in a much stronger position, six points clear of Villa.

"They have been really in form, and they have wiped out our goal difference with 15 in three games.

"They have never been far away, with a good manager and good players, so it should not be unexpected.

"If I knew what has been wrong with us, I would have done something about it. We had a tremendous run up until March time. This is a sticky patch but there is not one thing to put it down to.

"I don't believe in tiredness. Players are paid to play a lot of games.

"We were a long way further ahead of Villa a few weeks ago and they have done well and got much closer to us."

He added: "I see some similarities between us and Villa. Big city clubs with great support.

"But they have done it a different way. They have someone in who can spend money and change things quickly - it has taken us a lot longer.

"Martin has that gift to make winning teams. He did it at Celtic, Leicester and now Villa."

Moyes must wait for today's return of Mikel Arteta from Spain, where the Basque midfielder has been having intense treatment on worrying stomach and groin injuries.

Arteta should have been back on Merseyside yesterday but asked for an extra day of treatment in his homeland.

Moyes will have Leon Osman back after a hip problem.

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