Michael Owen tips Everton to ‘sneak in’ to top six despite defeat to Liverpool
Michael Owen still believes that Everton will finish in the top six of the Premier League.
The Blues’ European hopes took a big blow when they lost 2-1 to arch-rivals Liverpool on 19 April, in the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
However, the former Reds star does not think that result will stop David Moyes‘ side from finishing just below their neighbours, despite the late setback in L3.
He used the chaos at Chelsea as the basis of his prediction, as Liam Rosenior’s side have lost four of their last five league matches and look to be in free fall at the moment.
Everton are currently in 10th place, but they are just one point behind the Stamford Bridge side, who currently occupy sixth position heading into the defining weeks.
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What did Owen say about Everton’s top six chances?
Everton will still have faith after the performance against the Reds, as they put in a spirited display and deserved to come out with more.
Owen clearly had the same impression, as he made his prediction for the top six, when speaking to Mirror Football on 20 April.
The Ballon d’Or winner, said: “I think Everton still could squeeze in.
| Everton form | Chelsea form |
| Everton 2-0 Burnley | Aston Villa 1-4 Chelsea |
| Arsenal 2-0 Everton | Chelsea 0-1 Newcastle |
| Everton 3-0 Chelsea | Everton 3-0 Chelsea |
| Brentford 2-2 Everton | Chelsea 0-3 Man City |
| Everton 1-2 Liverpool | Chelsea 0-1 Man United |
“Chelsea have still got a couple of hard games to go and all’s not well at Chelsea at the moment.
“There’s a good feel about Everton, maybe Everton could sneak in.”
How Moyes’ side can seal sixth place
Moyes needs his side to keep their composure in the final few weeks of the campaign, as that will determine whether they will make the European places.
They were unlucky against Arne Slot’s side, and they can’t take the result to heart, otherwise it has the potential to derail their ambitions.
They need to use it as fuel to go and finish strongly, and achieve the prediction that Owen has made, and leave several observers stunned.
Nobody expected a top-half finish at the start of the season, but it is a very real possibility, with just five matches left to play.
It would be a truly remarkable achievement if they were to narrowly miss out on Champions League football in the first full season of the Friedkin Group’s ownership.
It bodes very well for the future, no matter which way the season goes from here, but if they could finish in the top six, it would be a truly brilliant step forward for Moyes and Co.
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