Paul Merson makes Everton relegation prediction live on Sky Sports
Paul Merson has made his prediction on whether Everton will be relegated from the Premier League following their 10-point deduction.
The Toffees were sent to 19th in the table following their points penalty for breaching profit and sustainability rules, putting them firmly in a relegation battle once again.
But Merson, speaking live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (25 November), believes that this season they will need less points than ever to avoid the drop and backed them to do just that.
“They will stay up because as Tim said, the teams around them because if those teams weren’t there you’d look at 40 points to stay up,” he said.
“But with 10 taken away they’d have to get 50 points. I’m not a season ticket holder at Everton but when was the last time they got 50 points?
“So it makes a difference this season. I think 30 points will be ample to keep someone up this season.”
Consensus
The common consensus around Everton and our final league position seems to be that we have the quality to avoid the drop despite our league points penalty, and that’s great.
But while Sean Dyche is the perfect manager to get us back over the line, and the squad has performed way above a level that would see us in a relegation battle in a normal season, that isn’t the point.
Those 10 points could now see us relegated, but if they’re reinstated it could see us jump up several places in the league table too which would bring extra financial rewards too.
We already know that the club are planning to appeal it and if successful that will help us, but we can’t let the common theme get to our heads and make us lose focus.
We must avoid complacency and keep winning games and getting points on the board. That’s the only way we can be sure of avoiding relegation in spite of the points deduction.
In other Everton news, Champions League clubs “ready to move” for Toffees star amid potential January exodus.