Everton to be 'most aggrieved club' as Man City battle with Premier League rumbles on

Everton were the first team to be punished for breaching the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

The Toffees received an initial 10-point deduction, later reduced to six, in November 2023 for exceeding their PSR spending limit by £19.5million.

The Blues were then docked two more points soon after for a second breach.

Compared to the charges against Manchester City, Everton's offences were certainly nowhere near as egregious.

Over eight years between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 campaigns, the Citizens were found guilty of inflating revenue and reducing costs by around £900m.

The Premier League officially opened its investigation against the Sky Blues in December 2018, then accused them of 115 financial breaches, with an independent commission finding them guilty of almost all charges.

Why Everton will be aggrieved after Man City and Premier League case

Everton's punishment by the Premier League will surely set a precedent for the proportionality of Man City's possible penalties.

However, The i Paper journalist Mark Douglas feels the Toffees have been dealt an unfair hand.

While the Premier League and the Manchester club were embroiled in their legal battle, many within the Merseyside outfit believed that they were "caught in the crossfire".

As a result, the Blues were made an example of, but that should've been Man City instead.

Douglas thinks the Toffees should be the "most aggrieved" club in the English top flight, as authorities laid down a marker with them.

Legal experts have suggested it could take at least five more years before there's any conclusion on the case and that's valuable time the Merseysiders weren't afforded to plan for life after the charges.

Hill Dickinson Stadium summer exit a clear punch in the stomach

Man City must have surely been aware of what was about to happen to them and sanctioned a major squad overhaul.

The Sky Blues' new signings included Iliman Ndiaye on transfer deadline day, someone Everton didn't have enough time to replace.

Over the years, other key players have moved from the Blues to the Etihad Stadium, with John Stones among them.

Had Man City not financially doped their way to success, it's safe to say they wouldn't have built the reputation they have right now.