ROBERTO MARTINEZ will target winning the title with Everton next season after claiming the emergence of rivals Liverpool as potential champions has served as an inspiration.
The Everton manager resumes the quest for a Champions League spot at Southampton today, but is already planning to push on from the progress he has overseen during the current campaign.
He believes Liverpool's rise to the Premier League summit has shattered the myth that only a select few are realistic contenders and will endeavour to challenge next term.
"This team is capable of competing with anyone," said Martinez. "What Liverpool have done this season is open up the perception of everyone and show you should be able to expect - or try - to win the league with a strong team.
"It's not like at the start of the season and people are telling you you've not a chance of winning the league because last season you finished seventh or whatever, or because you haven't got the finances of others.
"This season they've shown if you concentrate on what you do, if you're strong and good enough at what you do, you have an opportunity."
Everton are a point behind Arsenal in fifth place with three games remaining having already garnered their highest ever points tally in the Premier League.
Whoever finishes fifth this season will be the unluckiest team never to get Champions League football because of their points total
Martinez expects the chase for a top-four finish to intensify in the future as Manchester United and Tottenham plot a course to recovery following difficult campaigns. Yet he dismissed the notion it was 'now or never' in the respect of Everton's hopes of joining Europe's elite.
"I don't see it that way," said Martinez, who will be without Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka at St Mary's. "Whoever finishes fifth this season will be the unluckiest team never to get Champions League football because of their points total.
"And it's going to get harder and harder. Look at the teams missing out and currently sixth and seventh. You'd be expecting Spurs and Manchester United to be fighting for the top four.
"It's just the nature of the competition. Look at the tally and you won't see a league in world football where the difference between winning the title and finishing fifth is so close."
After today's showdown with Southampton, Everton host Manchester City on May 3 and then travel to Hull on the final weekend of the season. Martinez believes they will reach the top four if they win all three, adding: "We can get there if we win our games."
