Anthony Gordon predicts extremely ambitious Everton Premier League finish
Anthony Gordon predicts that Everton will break into the top six at the end of the Premier League season, at the expense of Manchester United.
The Toffees six-game unbeaten run in the top flight came to an end on Sunday evening (9 October) with a 2-1 defeat to Erik ten Hag’s side at Goodison Park, after which they currently sit 12th in the table.
Frank Lampard has overseen a significant uptick in fortunes at the club after narrowly escaping relegation last season, and homegrown star Gordon has thrown them in with the previous campaign’s top five for a European place come May.
Speaking to stillryan1 on Instagram, in a video posted on Sunday but apparently filmed before, when asked who would make top six he said: “Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs… Liverpool, Everton.
“I’m not saying in order. That’s random.”
Gordon has featured in every game in the league after the Toffees fought off interest from Stamford Bridge in the summer, scoring twice, but picked up a booking on Sunday to rule him out of the next match.
High hopes
Going straight from battling relegation to qualifying for Europe in one season would be some achievement for this side, and would silence any doubts about Lampard’s managerial ability.
Garth Crooks suggested that the former England midfielder will be fighting for his job with anything less than top six [BBC Sport, 2 October], so at least he would be satisfied, and if it sounds a stretch from Gordon he’s not the only one to mention it in recent weeks.
It hasn’t been an entirely smooth opening to the season, coming into the year with an incomplete squad that was only really finished on transfer deadline day.
The wide-man operated as a false-nine at times in the early games as Lampard opted to go without a recognised striker thanks to sparse options.
Wins over West Ham and Southampton showed the progress that is being made, and despite the defeat against United the defence still has the joint-best goals conceded record in the division.
A solid mid-table finish would arguably be a success after the trials and tribulations of the 2021/22 season, but there is no reason to rule out more at this stage, amid tentative signs of significant improvements.
Although whether Gordon himself will be there in May remains a consideration, with clubs tipped to return for him in January, but Lampard will need a quality replacement if that deal is to be done mid-season.