Sean Dyche can keep the Toffees in the top flight despite the club’s huge points deduction (Picture: PA)
There’s a lot of ifs, buts and maybes circling Everton’s perilous position at the bottom of the Premier League table following their ten-point deduction for breaching financial rules.
They are certain to appeal the decision but there is already speculation the £500million takeover bid planned by a US investment firm is on the brink of collapse and that star players are playing to jump ship.
Everton fans, who have been at loggerheads with the board for some time over what their running of the club, are preparing to stage a fresh round of protests and it’s looking very bleak for the blue half of Liverpool.
The bombshell news smacked the loyal fans from the Gwladys Street end in the face just as they were starting to experience signs of improvement under Sean Dyche’s command.
The Toffees had climbed to a respectable 12th in the table after a 3-2 win at Crystal Palace before the international break with 14 points from their opening dozen matches leaving them just six points behind seventh-placed Newcastle and a comfortable eight clear of the bottom three – before the deduction was imposed.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is primed to sign a new deal with Everton (Picture: Getty Images)
That’s in stark contrast to the last couple of seasons where they have flirted with relegation including a late, late reprieve last term where they only avoided falling through the trap door by the skin of their teeth.
It would be an absolute nightmare if Everton moved into their state-of-the-art new home next season only to play in the second tier for the first time in 70 years.
They were as big as 6/1 to be relegated with Sky Bet before the points deduction but are now as short as 7/4 with BoyleSports. However, the Toffees have the right man at the helm to inspire everyone to roll up their sleeves and fight for survival and news that striker Dominic Calvert-Lewis will open talks over a new contract in January shines a beacon of light on the crisis club.
Everton are still no bigger than 4/11 with bet365 to stay up and that looks fair enough. Even with the deduction leaving them in 19th place with four points and only above bottom club Burnley on goal difference, they will surely be better than the Clarets, Sheffield United, Luton and Bournemouth down the stretch.
The Toffees begin their climb away from the bottom three on Sunday when they entertain out-of-sorts Manchester United and can win at 15/8 with BetMGM and BetUK.
• Austria have only lost once in 2023 and have qualified for next summer’s European Championship after finishing second in Group F with 19 points from eight matches. They have 11 players in their squad who excel in the Bundesliga plus Real Madrid defender David Alaba and face Germany in a friendly in Vienna on Tuesday night. The 3/1 with Coral and Ladbrokes to send the visitors to a sixth defeat of the year, equalling their worst ever record, looks generous.
• Leyton Orient are evens with Ladbrokes, Coral and Bet Victor to beat Lincoln City in Tuesday’s League One affair at Brisbane Road.
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