Martin Keown shares ‘flip-flops’ verdict ahead of Everton v Luton Town clash
Martin Keown believes Sean Dyche will not allow his Everton players to relax as they travel to Kenilworth Road to face Luton Town on Friday (3 May).
The Toffees have already secured their safety in the top tier of English football, with Idrissa Gana Gueye’s goal enough to claim an all-important three points against Brentford on Saturday 27 April.
Luton, however, are still fighting for survival, and a victory against Everton could see them rise out of the dropzone before Nottingham Forest face Sheffield United, who have already been relegated.
Speaking live via talkSPORT on Friday (3 May, 11:39am), Keown said: “Luton absolutely have to win this game. With Everton, after three really good wins, I wonder if the flip-flops are on.
“Have they gone into that mode where they’re already safe? I don’t think Sean Dyche will allow it. There’s an opportunity for Luton but in the last couple of games, they’ve looked like a Championship team.
“There’s been a lot of pressure on them [Everton], having lost 6-0 to Chelsea. It looked really difficult but then they had an incredible turnaround, winning three games on the bounce.
“Sean Dyche, building for the future, will want to build something here – they don’t want to be embarrassed by Luton. But Luton will see this as an opportunity to step out of trouble.”
Could Everton slip up to Luton Town after securing Premier League safety?
While Everton are no longer at risk of facing relegation, the club will be keen to end the campaign on a high after such a stressful season at Goodison Park.
There is still uncertainty being cast over the club due to 777 Partners’ takeover, and while Premier League safety has left one less thing to think about, fans are extremely worried, and rightly so.
With just three matches of the campaign remaining, there is still massive uncertainty over whether the 777 takeover will get ratified and the situation is undoubtedly an unwanted distraction around the club.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Goodison Park, Dyche and his players have done extremely well to block out the unnecessary noise and focus on their performances on the pitch.
Considering a recent three-game winning run against Forest, Liverpool and Brentford, Dyche will certainly not allow his squad to relax and will want nothing but a victory against a relegation-threatened side.
In other Everton news, one senior player at the club is set to leave Goodison Park this summer.
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