Everton missed the chance to move six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone on Wednesday night after drawing with Leicester City.
It almost ended in defeat for Frank Lampard’s side when Harvey Barnes gave the Foxes a first half lead, only for Richarlison to tap in a late equaliser from close range in second half stoppage time. The Toffees’ chances of staying up could take a dent on Thursday night when relegation-threatened Burnley host Southampton. Should the Clarets win, they will close their deficit on Everton to just a point.
Ahead of Everton’s meeting with Leicester, the Toffees recorded a shock 1-0 victory at home to Manchester United in what was their first win in four matches in all competitions on Saturday lunchtime. However, since Lampard succeeded his former Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez, Everton have failed to record back-to-back wins.
Lampard admitted after the Leicester draw that he hates inconsistency and is aiming to record a run of wins to avoid relegation for the first time in the Premier League era.
“I hate an up and down pattern,” Lampard told the Liverpool Echo after drawing with the Foxes. “Winning a few games on the spin completely changes the picture and the mood around an entire club transforms.
“It is more complicated than just saying we need to back up the United performance, though. The Premier League asks different questions of you in every game and we have to find the answers against Leicester.”
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Since Lampard’s arrival Everton have picked up just ten points from a possible 33 in their 11 Premier League matches, winning three, drawing one and losing the other seven. Only Watford (8) and Norwich City (5) have picked up fewer points in that time.
At home, only Liverpool (18), Newcastle United (18), West Ham United (14), Manchester United (12) have picked up more points at home since January 31 than Everton. However, away matches have been a struggle, with all ten of the Toffees’ league points coming at Goodison Park. They are the only side to have lost every away league game since then.
In Everton’s final seven league games of the season, they face meetings with Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester, Watford, Brentford, Crystal Palace and a season-ending clash with Arsenal.
As things stand, Everton have a four point stronghold on the sides below them, although a draw with Leicester on Wednesday will have certainly boosted their chances of avoiding a drop down to the second tier of English football for the first time since the 1953/54 term.
Everton’s main rivals for survival are 18th-placed Burnley, who sacked former manager Sean Dyche last Friday after a ten-year spell in charge of the Clarets.
Former Everton striker Wayne Rooney, currently in charge of Derby County, is the second-favourite to take the job. Former Sheffield United and current Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder remains the firm leader.
