Mention the English Premier League to a casual soccer fan, and you're liable to fall into a discussion about the exceedingly rich "Big Four" teams that typically dominate it -- Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Everton would like to join that conversation.

The "other" team from Liverpool that will face the Major League Soccer All-Stars at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday night finished fifth in the Premiership last season for the second straight year, and aspires to join that hallowed echelon of elite soccer -- though four straight top-six finishes (and an appearance in the FA Cup final last season) already have cemented a respectable place among the strongest teams in the most popular league in the world.

"We're not far from the top four now," defender Leighton Baines said recently.

With such great expectations, coach David Moyes has insisted he will not sell any of his players during the offseason as the Toffees prepare for their effort -- though rumors are rampant the club will sell defender Joleon Lescott if suitors double their $25 million offer.

Certainly, the club has the pedigree to join the giants.

Formed in 1878, it has participated in a record 107 seasons of top-flight soccer in England and won nine league championships while playing more top-flight games than any other team.

Now, it's anchored by American goalkeeper Tim Howard and midfielders Phil Neville and Tim Cahill, and has experience visiting Utah, having lost to Real Salt Lake in an exhibition two years ago during a preseason tour of the United States similar to its current trip. The Premier League season does not start until next month, so Everton is playing the MLS All-Star Game as another preparatory game after an exhibition against Argentina's River Plate today in Edmonton.

"We climbed a lot of mountains last year and in some ways the challenge is going to be bigger again," captain Phil Neville told the Liverpool Echo . "But we are a consistent side and are still improving. Nothing we do should shock people."

The team is the fifth international team in a row to take on the MLS All-Stars, and probably the most accomplished since Chelsea visited (and lost) in 2006. In fact, the MLS All-Stars have never lost in five meetings with international opponents.