Following their 5-0 demolition at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, the Toffees sit just one point above the Premier League relegation zone. Could Everton’s Premier League streak which has lasted 30 years be in its greatest danger this season?
Should Frank Lampard and his team be unable to change their fortunes, the unthinkable could happen on Merseyside with Everton suffer relegation into the Championship.
Everton’s Premier League Streak in Danger of Ending
Only a handful of clubs since the Premier League began in 1992 have managed to stay there for its entirety – Everton are one of those clubs. Despite having several close calls with relegation they have always found a way to survive. However, after 25 games this season, the Toffees have just 22 points and relegation is now a real possibility.
Sitting in 17th place, one point, and one place above the relegation zone, Everton are looking over their shoulders. In poor form and with an inferior goal difference to Burnley below them, the Toffees are in dire need of a change in fortunes.
Big Names and Internationals not Performing
Despite having 13 games to save their season, Everton’s big money buys and internationals must begin to perform.
England internationals Jordan Pickford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Michael Keane and new signing Dele Alli, Brazilian forward Richarlison, Dutch international and another new signing Donny van de Beek, big-money arrival Alex Iwobi amongst others now must show why the club signed them and demonstrate why their nations pick them now or have done in the past.
Everton have scored just 28 goals so far this season and conceded 46. Frank Lampard must find a way to improve these statistics one way or another. If not, Championship football may well be being played at Goodison Park next season for the first time since the 1953-54 season.
Poor Away Record and Home Form Not Much Better
Just six points this season have been taken on their travels. Anyone who watched their game at Tottenham will be under no illusions as to why. With away form such as this, Goodison Park needed to be a fortress. Sadly for the club and their fans, their home has not been much better.
Five wins at home so far, despite being better than their away form has not been good enough. Two of these came in their first two home games of the season. Despite a good start to the season under Rafa Benitez which saw just one defeat in nine games in all competitions, their form dropped alarmingly. It was a run of form that saw seven defeats in 10 games before the end of the year and also the end of Benitez’s time in charge.
2022 has been just as difficult with just one win being collected in the league despite progressing well in the FA Cup. Former Chelsea player and manager Frank Lampard has taken charge and has an uphill battle to keep the club in England’s top flight.
Lampard Confident Ahead of Crucial Games
New Toffee’s boss Frank Lampard spoke after the loss at Spurs and is confident ahead of the next two games and the remainder of the season. He said: “I will be ready for them, the players will be ready for them, they have to be ready for them.
“The feeling at this club when I came here was we could be going down. It was clear around the city, it was up to me to change that and I thought we had changed that. But this is a test of that. I had 20 years as a player, I had hundreds of periods like this.”
“We have to think of the bigger picture – there are 13 games to go. Before I came in, there were issues and they are becoming clearer. But it is important the positivity remains, not stupid positivity.”
13 Games Remain for Everton to Save Their Streak
Starting with Wolves and followed by Newcastle United, both at home, Everton have 13 games to save their season and their Premier League streak. With their away form poor, Goodison Park appears to be their best chance of collecting the points they need to stay in the division.
Seven of their last 13 games are at home with relegation rivals Newcastle and Brentford being the most crucial. Away, they still have others fighting to stay in the division such as Burnley and Watford to play. However, Everton still have five of the current top six teams to play in their bid to avoid relegation.
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