Everton sitting pretty as Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher predict relegation battle amid ‘madness’ verdict
Everton have been backed to get four points from their final two fixtures and likely secure Premier League survival in Gary Neville’s and Jamie Carragher’s latest relegation predictions.
With a trip to Wolves and a home game against Bournemouth – both now safe after previously being part of the fight for safety themselves – the Toffees are left with the “best games” of the teams still at risk according to Carragher.
Leicester’s predicament got worse with the 3-0 loss at home to Liverpool on Monday, but even before that the Foxes and Nottingham Forest were tipped as those in greatest danger, despite the latter currently being best off in 16th.
As they analysed the relegation battle on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football before kick-off of Leicester vs Liverpool (15 May, 6.50pm) Neville said: “We’ve seen madness in the last few weeks haven’t we with relegation, from Bournemouth, what happened with Everton at Brighton… I don’t like Forest’s games.”
Carragher was emphatic: “Everton have got the best games.”
“I think Everton’s games are good,” agreed Neville, while backing Leeds to beat Tottenham on the final day. He also expects Steve Cooper’s side to be beaten by Arsenal and not win at Crystal Palace, adding that he’s been “worried about Forest for three or four months”.
“Everton have got games that I think they’ll win, one of them. Wolves or Bournemouth,” he added, “I think it’s between Leicester and Forest [to go down] now.”
“I think Everton and Leeds can both get four points there, I really do,” said Carragher.
De ja vu
There were times last season when the game looked up after Frank Lampard came in to replace Rafa Benitez, before safety was secured in the penultimate game on a night few Evertonians will ever forget.
There have been more than a few times this season when hope looked lost after Sean Dyche took over from Lampard, but with two games left once more the Toffees are one place outside the bottom three and could cement top flight status at exactly the same stage with a victory at Molineux on Saturday (20 May).
Considering all the drama that has come and gone in the intervening 12 months it would be quite an incredible situation for both relegation battles to play out in such a similar manner, but the door is open for Dyche to make it happen.
The withdrawal of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at half time of the defeat to Manchester City on Sunday will have everyone on edge unless it is confirmed that he has escaped another injury problem at the worst time.
His presence in the starting line-up for a run of games has been vital in recording four crucial points in the past fortnight, and after his diving header completed the 3-2 turnaround a year ago against Crystal Palace the fans, his teammates, and his coaches would feel better if he was in the side.
It is some relief to even reach this stage with the fight for safety still in the Toffees’ own hands, and if they can fulfil the predictions of the Sky Sports pair it will mean so much more than just a change in away destinations in light of the major off-pitch implications.