Phil McNulty makes fresh Everton Premier League relegation prediction after 10-point deduction
Everton will not be relegated from the Premier League this season, according to BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty.
The prediction comes despite the Merseyside outfit being handed a 10-point deduction for breaching the league’s profit and sustainability rules.
The Toffees, who lost 3-0 to Manchester United on Sunday (26 November), currently occupy 19th place in the table.
On a BBC Sport Q&A (27 November), McNulty was asked the question: “You said recently you believed Everton would stay up even if they were deducted 12 points by the Premier League. The eventual punishment was ten. Has anything changed your view?”
McNulty replied: “No. If I said they would stay up with 12 points deducted I will certainly be saying it with 10. I genuinely believe Everton have enough to overcome that handicap and will not be relegated this season.
“Of course I could be wrong – it has been known – but I genuinely believe Everton will still be in the Premier League next season.”
Staying up?
It remains to be seen exactly what will happen to the Toffees after their guilty verdict, with the club appealing the 10-point deduction.
But one certainty is that for now they have an uphill battle on their hands, with Sean Dyche’s men falling to a miserable 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United in their first match after the punishment.
The home fans were certainly up for the encounter with the Red Devils at Goodison Park, but the players didn’t do their jobs on the pitch.
The visitors, who even had manager Erik ten Hag suspended, ran out easy winners in the end, even though Everton had several chances to find the back of the net.
That has been a similar theme under Dyche this season, with his players creating very good chances before fluffing their lines in front of goal.
Things will have to improve as the months go on if they are to stay in the division, with a trip to Nottingham Forest up next.
In other Everton news, Peter Reid has shared what drove him “mad” about the 10-point deduction handed to the Toffees.