Everton manager Sean Dyche insists he doesn’t care about not finishing in the bottom three in the relegation battle until the last day of the season.
The rivals’ results meant that even after losing 3-0 to Manchester City last weekend, the team did not fall into the relegation zone.
Saturday’s 3pm start at Wolves means Dyche’s side have a chance to increase the pressure on 18th and 19th placed Leeds and Leicester, who play on Sunday and Monday respectively.
Only a third away win of the season would have given the Toffees a five-point lead and ensured their fate was in their own hands.
In addition, the Foxes will need to win the last two games, while Leeds will need at least four points to survive.
But Dyche is not interested in the calculations, even at this late stage.
“I don’t look at the league. I look at the performances, I look at the group, I look at the preparation, I look at the strategy, I look at all these things, tactics, that’s what I’m obsessed with,” he said.
“At this stage, we are not talking about the standings. I’ve been saying this for weeks, the one at the end of the season is the most important.
“Of course we all discuss it and look at it during the season, of course we do it, but what happens at the end of the season is the most important thing when we aim to be above the line.
“I think we were just staying very clear, trying to take away the layers of noise around our group to make sure we were focused on the game.
“That’s all we want to do, others can do whatever they want.”
The Everton manager also tried to play down the importance of playing ahead of his rivals on the penultimate weekend of the season.
“You can look at it from either side, I’ve been on both sides,” he said.
“The last club, this club, whether you feel like it’s the right day or the wrong day, that’s the way it is. The schedule is what it is, you need to put up with it.
“You have to play no matter the difficulty. I’ve always looked at it this way, so I can’t change the position of the gate from someone else’s point of view.
“From my point of view, whenever the game happens, it’s important to accept it.”
Forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin has returned to training after a groin problem forced him out of the game against City.
