Moyes out to hit ground running

The Toffees have made a habit of beginning poorly and having to salvage their campaign after Christmas but for once Moyes is optimistic that may change.

He admits he has tried various approaches over the years to ensure the squad hit the ground running and this northern summer he has again made a couple of tweaks.

But what he feels will be more significant is, in contrast to previous seasons when business has been done late on, he already has two important key players on board in Steven Naismith and Steven Pienaar.

"I have always thought if you can get your recruitment done early it does make a big difference to what you do," said the Scot, who is still looking to bring in a couple more players before the end of the transfer window.

"I am happy we've got a couple in with Naismith and Pienaar, so from that point of view we have done our business a little bit there.

"We have tried a couple of things (in pre-season) and we are always trying to look to make things better and improve.

"Some things haven't been as good as they should have been but I'm content with the group of players I have."

Last season Everton took just seven points from its first seven matches but, coincidentally, still managed to finish seventh - ahead of city rival Liverpool for the first time since 2005.

That has been a familiar story over recent campaigns and its start is no easier this time around as Manchester United, which lost out on a 20th league title to neighbour City on goal difference with almost the final kick of the season, visits Goodison Park on Tuesday morning (AEST).

"Over the years we have had many strange starts to the season, mainly not particularly good ones, but you can't dismiss where we tend to finish," added Moyes.

"Where we tend to finish is where most people and pundits would probably put Everton.

"We will try to get off to a good start and try to be up at the top if we can but the opposition we have got are very hard.

"Our supporters know we will play the best we can and we will make it as competitive as we have over the years for Manchester United.

"It is a great opening game for us and I am really looking forward to getting started.

"I was excited with the way we finished last season and I have roughly the same team and that gives me good optimism."

Moyes dismissed the suggestion, however, that his side cost United the title last season with its late 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in April and that Sir Alex Ferguson's side would be looking for revenge for that.

"If you look at what we did last year we were only able to take a point off Manchester United and we took three points off City," he added.

"We have to try to improve on that this year and look to take more points."