Everton will qualify for Europe if they finish above Manchester United this season, predicts Carlo Ancelotti.
The Blues boss is adamant that either Europa League or Champions League football will be secured if his side earn more points than United.
Everton welcome Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side to Goodison in Saturday's lunchtime game (12:30pm) and kick-off in fifth position, 10 places and six points ahead of the visitors.
Ancelotti fully expects United to finish the season "really high" in the standings and so says that if the Blues end up with more points then they are certain to qualify for European football next term.
“Honestly, If you finish above United this season it means you finish in the position to play in Europe," he said.
"United is going to finish really high in the table in my opinion. It didn’t matter that they didn’t start well.
"So to finish above them means to be in Europe next season.
"That will be difficult, really difficult for us.”
Ancelotti has repeated his belief that the packed schedule for the division's European representatives gives sides such as Everton, at the end of a week of Champions League and Europa League football, a physical advantage.
“Our target is to compete with United and all the other teams," he said.
"You have to consider also, honestly, that the teams that are in Europe have a really busy team, playing every three days and with travel. It is not easy for them to manage this period. So for this the reason, I think, there is a lot of competition in the Premier League this season.
"Because Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Tottenham, United, Arsenal and Leicester have been involved every three days.
"For our team and other teams that can be a little advantage in this period.”
