Roberto Martinez: Everton out to beat Man City even if it helps Liverpool in title race

Martinez: We've no intention of helping Liverpool Martinez: We've no intention of helping Liverpool

Victory at the weekend would maintain Everton's outside chance of Champions League football next season, while at the same time handing their city rivals an advantage in the title race.

But ahead of the game Martinez made it clear Liverpool's fate will have no bearing on events at Goodison Park.

"We are not in a season where we are playing for nothing, just making up the numbers. We are not that sort of football club," said the Spaniard.

"The values we have as a football club mean we would never contemplate not to give our all in a game, especially when we have so much to fight for.

"I don't think there is any doubt about the integrity of our football club towards the league, we are a club who want to win every single game.

"They are precious points for us and we can't really afford not to give everything we have got for every point we have got left.

"If that adds some spice in the twists and turns of the title race so be it.

"As to helping other teams, that is not the way we do our work. It is not as if we are coming out on the pitch to do anyone a favour.

"We are focusing on trying to win for ourselves and have real high standards in every game we go into representing our club.

"The fans are the first ones who want to come to Goodison to enjoy and be proud of the team.

"It is important we are as good as we can be as we are facing a phenomenal football team and I think the fans understand that."

Gareth Barry is ineligible to face parent club City at Goodison Park and Martinez is angry that he will not be able to utilise the former England midfielder.

Players on loan between two top-flight clubs are not permitted to face the team that holds their registration, which is not the case in European competition.

Debate on the subject has arisen after Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, on loan at Atletico Madrid, was instrumental in knocking his 'employers' out of the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

And Martinez, who has utilised the loan market with the season-long signings of Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku, Barcelona youngster Gerard Deulofeu and Manchester City's Barry does not believe the Spanish side had an unfair advantage.

"In my eyes, when you reach an agreement for a player to go, whether that be a loan or permanent transfer, then he should be allowed to play," said the Toffees boss.

"It is a decision you make in a transfer window and I don't see it as a healthy way to treat a loan player. If you make the decision to allow a player to go then it's because, for whatever reason, everyone is happy to see him at another club for that season.

"So I think the fairest way is to see what we see in European competition and see a player fully focused for the team that he is at. Then at the end of the season it is a matter of reassessing the situation and someone making a decision on the player's future."

Lukaku, Barry and Deulofeu have been important players in Everton's successful season, which has seen them push Arsenal right to the wire for fourth place in the Premier League, but Martinez also has a proven record of allowing his own players to go out on loan.

And he said: "The loan system has a real need in the modern game. It is a very interesting debate and should be something that needs to be looked at.

"Clearly we shouldn't have two different rules in two different competitions - I think domestic rules should be the same as the European laws in that respect."

Watch Everton v Manchester City on Sky Sports 1HD from 17.00 on Saturday