Everton loan star Romelu Lukaku has insisted that they have the quality to match parent club Chelsea and need to be considered as title contenders.
The 20-year-old Belgian striker has scored nine goals since joining the Toffees on a one-year deal from Stamford Bridge, helping them reach fourth in the Premier League heading into the New Year.
No team has suffered fewer top-flight defeats than Roberto Martinez's men this season, but seven draws have held them back somewhat and Lukaku has called on the Goodison Park outfit to be more ruthless when chasing victory.
If they do that, Lukaku feels that Champions League qualification is a certainty, and would even consider Everton a long shot for the title alongside Chelsea, claiming that there is not much difference between the two squads.
"You can say we are outsiders for the title now. You don't need to be shy about that," Lukaku told reporters. "You have got to when you look at our points. I knew from the first day that I arrived on the training ground and trained with the team. The quality is here.
"Chelsea was top but Everton is getting there. There is not a lot of difference and that is why I think I made a good choice. In the new year we have to be consistent and work and work and change those draws into wins and then it will be fine.
"We are showing great consistency in our performances and mentally we are very strong. We are improving on the things that the team didn't have last year so that is a good sign. If we are more ruthless we will end definitely in the top four."
Everton are 40-1 sixth favourites to win the Premier League with leading bookmaker SkyBet.
Joe Fish
