Daniel Lewis

Wed 25 October 2023 19:40, UK

Everton are capable of staying in the Premier League even if they are hit with a 12-point deduction, according to Sky Sports presenter Dougie Critchley.

The Telegraph reported on Wednesday (25 October) that the Premier League has recommended the punishment if the Toffees are found guilty of breaching profit and sustainability rules.

Should that be the case, Everton would find themselves on minus five points, placing them 10 points behind Luton Town in 17th place.

However, Critchley believes the quality of the other teams in the lower reaches of the division means the Toffees should be fine regardless.

“If Everton are found guilty and drop to -5 points, I still think they’ve got a decent chance of staying up if they maintain their current levels. Such is the quality at the bottom of the Premier League this season,” he posted on Twitter on Thursday (25 October).

Fingers crossed

Even the most optimistic of Everton fans would accept a 12-point deduction would all but condemn the club to a first relegation since 1950-51.

Making up a 10-point gap on safety is not exactly insurmountable, but Everton have showed nothing to suggest they are capable of putting together a run of wins.

Indeed, they have taken just seven points from nine – largely winnable – fixtures so far this season, so they would need to seriously turn things around.

A points deduction would at least help create a siege mentality, both inside the dressing room and in the stands, and it could easily be the catalyst to kickstart the club’s campaign.

But nobody wants to see if that is the case, and hopefully any sort of points deduction is instead suspended.

All supporters can really do at this point is await the verdict, whenever that may be.

In other Everton news, Jamie Carragher has raged at the “unbelievable” speculation surrounding the Toffees.