Sky Sports pundit Michael Dawson predicts winner of Everton crunch clash v Fulham in Premier League
Michael Dawson has predicted that Everton will pick up a win against Fulham who are on a “slippery slope” in their Premier League clash at Goodison Park on Saturday (15 April).
The Toffees’ four-match unbeaten run came to a timid end in their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United, leaving Sean Dyche’s side in 17th and only above 18th-placed Nottingham Forest on goal difference.
And Dawson speaking on Sky Sport’s Essential Football Podcast [14 April] admitted that teams can beat the drop without hitting the usual 40-point mark and that Fulham’s recent slide should see Dcyhe’s men run out winners at Goodison Park.
He said [13m: 40s]: “It’s not going to be the 40-mark that we all normally say is enough for your safety, I don’t believe it will be that, 36 maybe will be enough, 37 so it is going to be a little bit less or maybe less than that even because they all play each other.
“You look at the weekend, that really affects the outcome, Everton-Fulham? I see Everton beating Fulham because they are on a slippery slope right now.”
Great opportunity
Dawson is right, Fulham are on a really slippery slope right now, having not won in the top flight since the end of February, which gives Everton a crucial chance to go on and claim a much-needed three points to strengthen their bid to remain in the Premier League.
Although the Toffees were pretty feeble last weekend and didn’t seem to put up much of a fight at Old Trafford – barring Jordan Pickford, who made several world-class saves – getting back in front of their homes fans could be just the tonic they need to find themselves again.
Every team has their off day in such a tense and tight battle, and Dyche won’t accept any performances of that Old Trafford ilk again with so much riding on these next few encounters.
This weekend starts a favourable-looking run of fixtures for Everton, who take on Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Leicester City in their next three matches.
With just eight games of the season remaining, and four of these being at Goodison Park, Dyche could really do with picking up all three points to once again settle nerves on Merseyside.
We can’t have another nerve-wracking end to the campaign like last season, can we?