Gary Neville still backing Everton to overachieve this season
Gary Neville claimed at the start of 2021-22 that Everton will overachieve this season, and is still standing by his prediction midway through the campaign.
The Sky Sports pundit was reviewing his predictions on Monday Night Football last night (27 December), and Jamie Carragher asked him why he still reckons that the Toffees would surpass expectations.
Neville made it clear that injuries have hindered Rafa Benitez’s side from punching above their weight, tipping them to improve now that most of the players are back in action.
He said on Sky Sports (as shared on Football Daily Twitter account): “Overachievers, I still think Everton will finish strongly.”
Carragher asked: “Why?”
Neville continued: “We’re only halfway through.
“They have had a lot of injuries. They have had Calvert-Lewin out, They have had Richarlison out, They have had (Abdoulaye) Doucoure out at times, so they would be alright.”
True?
Dominic Calvert-Lewin lasted just three games into the campaign before going off injured, and he only recently returned to full training with his teammates.
He scored thrice and helped the Toffees to two wins and a draw, but they only managed to get three more victories on board since he became unavailable, losing eight others and drawing thrice.
However, the return of the England international striker will surely come as a boost, and he will be very eager to get back on the pitch.
Positive Covid-19 cases in their squad have seen Everton request for the postponement of their last two games against Leicester City and Burnley, and it remains to be seen whether Thursday (30 December) clash against Newcastle United will go ahead.
The Goodison Park outfit will be full of belief heading into the second half of the season given their several injury boosts, and after picking up four points from their last three games, they will be keen to keep up that momentum going forward.
European qualifications may just very much be on the cards.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are plotting January loan-to-buy bid for centre-mid hailed by Jack Grealish last month.
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