EVERTON manager David Moyes admits he is unlikely to eclipse the longevity of Premier League greats Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson following a landmark outing against Brighton.

Moyes became only the third man in the competition’s 33-season history to take charge of 700 games after leading the Toffees to Saturday’s 1-0 victory at the Falmer Stadium.

Ex-Arsenal boss Wenger holds the outright record, having overseen 828 matches between 1996 and 2018, while former Manchester United manager Ferguson retired on 810 in 2013.

Moyes, who at 61 is the Premier League’s oldest manager, concedes it will be a tall order to reach those totals after celebrating a milestone occasion by coming out on top against the division’s youngest coach, 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler.

“It just seems too far away,” said the Scot, who has also managed Manchester United, Sunderland and West Ham in the top flight.

“I’ve got to the 700 obviously, but that (the record) would probably be about another four seasons in the Premier League.

“You never know in life. But the sport itself is getting much younger, the young coach here [Hurzeler] is doing a marvellous job with his team.

“I think if you said to them [young coaches], ‘do you think you’ll get to 700 Premier League games?’, I think they’d say, ‘no chance – we’re not doing it that long’.

“At the time when I started young I didn’t think I would ever get to this point, but I’m proud of it. Why should I not be?”

Moyes returned for a second spell at Everton a fortnight ago after previously leading the club between 2002 and 2013.

Following last weekend’s impressive 3-2 win over Tottenham, Iliman Ndiaye’s contentious first-half penalty secured success on the south coast to move the Toffees seven points clear of the relegation zone.

However, victory came at a cost as striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was substituted in the early stages due to a hamstring issue before midfielder Orel Mangala was forced off late on by a knee problem.

Moyes is waiting to discover the extent of injuries he initially said “don’t look great” and feels the verdicts may affect the club’s activity during the final days of the transfer window.

“I think it does,” he said. “Depending on what comes back from their assessments will decide a little more to whether we’re having to go and do something, which we may have to do from what we’ve seen.”

Ndiaye converted from 12 yards after Joel Veltman was penalised for handball following a VAR review.

Seagulls defender Veltman was adamant he was fouled during the incident.

“I was sandwiched between two guys,” he told Premier League Productions.

“I got a little push from the right hand side that moved my hand forward and the ball was there.

“When you fall, your automatic reaction is to try to get your hands forward on to the ground before you hit your head, it was more a reaction than a purposeful handball.

“I would 100 per cent have headed it or cleared it with my feet without the push.”

Albion dominated the second period, but created little against a stubborn opposition defence as their wait for a home win extended to five matches.

“At home against Everton we have to do better, we need to look in the mirror and not blame other things,” said Veltman.

“Everton have those qualities to ‘park the bus’ and wait for a counter attack.”