Defeat at Everton has ended Southampton's top four hopes, admits manager Ronald Koeman.

Koeman admitted the defeat, their eighth in a 10-match win-less sequence of league visits to Goodison Park, had ended their outside chance of Champions League football and they now had to focus on Europe's second-tier competition.

"It is not realistic at this moment to think of the first four positions of the table," he said.

"It is more realistic to think about the Europa League but the Europa League for us is like the Champions League for Arsenal and Manchester United.

"We are very disappointed about the result today. It was a little bit more difficult for us to create chances.

"It is more difficult because of how opponents are defending and playing against Southampton.

"Everton played at home and defended the result and that is out of respect."