In their first Premier League game since being slapped with an unprecedented 10-point deduction, Everton host Manchester United at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Toffees have been plunged into the drop zone as a consequence of breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules, while the Red Devils remained inconsistent prior to the international break.
Allegations of posting excessive losses had been an unwelcome distraction in the background for a while, until Everton were deducted a whopping 10 points on November 17, leaving the "shocked and disappointed" Toffees deep in relegation danger in 19th place with a total of just four points to their name.
Only goal difference is keeping Everton off the foot of the table - a position which Burnley occupy - but Dyche's side boast a far superior record in that regard to their new demotion rivals around them, and their on-field activities had provided a safe haven to their off-field controversies in recent weeks.
Twice Everton went ahead at Selhurst Park, and twice they were pegged back by Crystal Palace in an unexpectedly high-scoring encounter, but Idrissa Gueye's 86th-minute strike eventually proved telling as the Toffees prolonged their unbeaten streak in all competitions to four matches, while six of their last nine have now ended in triumph.
0 Comments