Everton in crisis: Will they avoid relegation?
The Premier League opened a can of worms during the recent international break, slapping Everton with a stunning 10-point deduction for financial rule breaches.
It’s the biggest points deduction penalty in Premier League history, and it has truly rumbled the football landscape in Britain.
Rival fans across the country, even those who support Liverpool, are under the impression that the extent of the punishment is a bridge too far for the Premier League.
It’s also going to lead to a massive fallout.
Several clubs, including Leeds United, Leicester City, Southampton and Nottingham Forest could seek compensation, while the big spenders like Chelsea and Manchester City will be quaking in their boots.
There’s certainly a lot to be concerned about in terms of ongoings off the pitch if you’re an Everton fan, but are there equal amounts to worry about on it?
Well, the Toffees’ 10-point deduction does, of course, mean that they have been pulled back into the bottom three and are subsequently more favourable to ultimately fall through the trap door in the EPL relegation odds.
Everton have survived relegation by the skin of their teeth for the last couple of seasons. But the consensus is that it will catch up with them eventually, and the Toffees find themselves in a sticky situation once again.
Is relegation to the Championship for the first time in their rich history really on the cards for Everton though?
Had you asked us that question a couple of months ago, we probably would have said yes.
Sean Dyche’s men had a horror start to the 2023-24 Premier League season, as they lost their opening three games for the first time in their 145-year existence.
It wasn’t until matchday six that they actually won a game, beating Brentford 3-1 in London on September 23.
Everton followed that up with a disappointing defeat to relegation rivals Luton Town at home, before beating fellow strugglers Bournemouth and then losing to Merseyside foes Liverpool.
However, Dyche masterminded a three-game unbeaten streak with wins over West Ham United and Crystal Palace, and a draw against Brighton and Hove Albion, to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
They had a comfortable eight-point cushion over Luton in 18th, and you’d have fancied Everton to continue doing enough until the end of the season to keep their distance from the bottom three.
But they now find themselves firmly back in it, with their 10-point deduction leaving them level on points with bottom-of-the-table Burnley.
The good news for Everton is that their punishment has cast them too far adrift from safety. Luton are just two points above them in 17th, so the Toffees are by no means in real danger just yet.
Not to mention the fact that Everton’s form over the last five games is far superior to the teams around them, as they have picked 10 points from a possible 15 thanks to three wins, a draw and a defeat.
If the players can put what is going on behind the scenes at the club to the back of their minds and remain purely focused on the football, they are in a good position to get out of the relegation zone relatively quickly.
It’s also worth noting, that with all due respect, Sheffield United, Luton and Burnley do set an incredibly low standard on what we have seen so far this season.
Unless this crazy state of affairs massively derails Everton, then relegation should be the least of their worries.