Jamie Carragher shares 'Unbearable' Everton relegation verdict ahead of Premier League clash v Bournemouth
Jamie Carragher believes Everton fans will still be nervous heading into their crucial final-day Premier League clash with Bournemouth despite having their fate in their own hands.
Sitting just outside the drop zone, two points away from Leeds United and Leicester City, a win on Sunday will resign both teams to relegation and ensure Everton continue their long-held history in the English top-flight.
And Carragher, writing in his column for The Telegraph [26 May] believes Everton should come out victorious on Sunday but anxiety levels at Goodison Park will be “unbearable” even if they find themselves 1-0 in front against the Cherries.
He said: “Despite having their fate in their hands, Evertonians are still very nervous, especially as they will be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Dyche’s home victories have all been 1-0, and if that is the scoreline in the remaining minutes on Sunday the anxiety levels will be unbearable.
“I believe Everton will stay up because since Dyche took over they have become one of the most effective set-piece teams in the Premier League – centre-backs are responsible for most of Everton’s goals – and no side in the top division has conceded more from corners and free-kicks than Bournemouth.
“That is where the game can be won and lost.”
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Nerve-wracking
Sean Dyche will just want to win on Sunday with no nail-biting scenes as they desperately look to confirm their Premier League status for next season.
Though, Everton very rarely make things easy for themselves which would indeed make the anxiety levels at Goodison Park so tense and indeed unbearable.
With Bournemouth already confirming their own status, Gary O’Neil’s men will certainly have nothing to play for on Sunday but in recent weeks they have proven a tough nut to crack but also a danger going forward.
Everton will need to be solid and efficient in both boxes on Sunday, but how they go about doing that without their star man Dominic Calvert-Lewin just makes their task all the more difficult.
It’s so easy to predict that the Toffees should get the job done, considering it’s such a high-stakes game for them but the Premier League is well-known to throw up major spanners and there could be some nerve-wracking twists and turns on Sunday, but Dyche and his men will only have tunnel vision heading into the game.
Win, and you are a Premier League team next season. That’s the only thing that matters.