Premier League reject new Everton request as bosses react to approach
Everton will very soon return to Premier League action following the international break, and meet Liverpool for an eager reunion of the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
If the contest is half as entertaining as the memorable spectacle in Goodison Park’s last-ever derby in February, every supporter is in for a treat.
However, it has emerged that a request welcomed by officials at both clubs has been denied by the Premier League in a blow for David Moyes‘ side.
Everton request snubbed by Premier League
Everton are set to face Liverpool at Anfield at 8pm on Wednesday 2 April, just three days before they return to Goodison to take on second-placed Arsenal in a lunchtime kick-off, no less.
With Mikel Arteta‘s Gunners hosting Fulham next Tuesday (1 April), they have an extra day on Moyes’ men to prepare for the clash resulting in Everton requesting to bring the derby forward 24 hours, according to the Mail (23 March).
The Premier League immediately rebuffed the approach, meaning there remains fewer than 72 hours between the Toffees’ respective fixtures against the top two.
Liverpool also welcomed their Merseyside rivals’ request in a rare move which would have benefitted both sides of the city, with Arsenal the closest to title challengers that Arne Slot’s men have in their rear-view.
The minimum period between Premier League fixtures these days stands at 60 hours, and given the Liverpool and Arsenal clashes are 64.5 hours apart, the league governing body has dismissed Everton’s appeal.
Toffees fans’ relationship with league is tense
It’s fair to assume the out-of-hand rejection of Everton’s proposal, quietly backed by Liverpool, has not cast the Premier League in any further beneficial light among the supporters.
The Gwladys Street has long shown its disapproval with various moves made by the league governors, not least the two separate points deductions which knocked the Toffees last season, before they comfortably avoided relegation.
Had sides around Everton performed much better last term, it could have spelt real trouble as an eight-point total was docked from a side then taken by Sean Dyche.
| Everton – next two fixtures | Date |
| Liverpool (A) | 2 April, 8pm |
| Arsenal (H) | 5 April, 12:30pm |
Neither are fans in blue alone when they broadcast their feelings regarding PSR constraints, and how they feel different rules and punishments apply more harshly to their club than those competing in the elite competitions.
Everton will certainly be a Premier League outfit for a fair while yet, so while that tension remains, at least the Toffees faithful have an ambitious plan sprouting at their beloved club.