Laura Woods drops Everton in Premier League relegation discussion, pundit reacts with ‘kiss of death’ verdict
TalkSPORT presenter Laura Woods namedropped Everton as Premier League relegation candidates for which pundit Tony Gale reacted by describing the race for safety as a “kiss of death” situation.
The Toffees have endured another disappointing Premier League campaign, currently sitting in 18th place level on points with Leeds United who sit just outside the drop zone on goal difference.
Just five points separate the drop zone and Crystal Palace in 12th and Gale predicts the race to avoid the drop will go down to the wire.
Speaking live on talkSPORT radio [7 March, 4m:10s], Woods asked Gale who his bottom three would be at the end of the season.
She said: “When you look at the bottom of the table, and how tight it is down there Tony, I know what you’re saying about West Ham but look at the other teams that are stuck in it so Everton, Southampton, Bournemouth, do you think that’s gonna change or who would your bottom three be?”
Gayle replied: “It’s all the way up to Palace, normally I’d go oh, they’re a certainty, they’re a certainty but they’re all picking up points at the moment.
“And it just changes, even when it changes for that point and you see yourself a point or too clear of it, it’s so good psychologically and that’s me having been down there before as well.
“I think it’s too tight to call, it goes all the way up to Palace I think, they’re having a little bit of a bad run as well so I wouldn’t want to be the kiss of death for any of them.”
Exciting race
The Premier League table is set up nicely down the bottom with all of around nine teams are in danger of facing the dreaded drop down to the Championship at the end of the campaign.
A nice and healthy run of results can take a side well clear of it and drop a few teams right into it, and that will certainly be the ambition of Everton who find themselves in yet another relegation dogfight after last season’s drama.
Out of all the teams down at the bottom, it is certainly too close to call as Gayle said as any of those nine teams could face the drop.
Many neutrals will be praying for some last-day drama but it would be hugely catastrophic if Everton or West Ham suffer relegation as it could have significant ramifications for the future and finances of both clubs who are expected every season to be in the top half of the table.
Just goes to show how difficult the English top flight is and that every single game is indeed a final in these circumstances. Both clubs can take nothing for granted.