Former Everton stalwart Alan Stubbs believes that his old club will be relegated at the end of the season as they head into a six-pointer with Nottingham Forest this weekend.
The Reds host the Toffees on Sunday at the City Ground and the stakes could hardly be higher. Only four points separate them in the Premier League standings as Steve Cooper seeks to avoid being dragged back into a relegation dogfight.
Forest's excellent form after the restart in December saw them move clear of the dropzone, but fears of a return to the Championship have risen in recent weeks. They have gained just one point from a possible nine in their last three matches.
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Everton, meanwhile, have struggled greatly this term after just barely avoiding the drop in 2021/22. They have, though, improved defensively under Sean Dyche, winning two of their first four games under the new manager.
Scoring goals remains a big problem for Everton, however. They have found the net just 17 times this season, the worst scoring record of any team in the top flight.
Star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been sidelined with injury for much of the campaign, and has scored just once on the 12 occasions he has managed to play in the league. After Everton missed a number of good chances in the weekend defeat to Aston Villa, Stubbs believes his fitness could be crucial to their chances of staying up - but he's convinced they are doomed as things stand.
"Going into the Villa game there was quite a bit of optimism, and to be fair for the first half Everton slightly shaded it, they had a couple of good chances. In the second half they didn't reach the same intensity and Villa were worthy winners in the end," the former centre-back told talkSPORT.
"The difference between the two teams in the end was that one had a striker and the other didn't. That summarises Everton's season. They've got a striker in Calvert-Lewin that they just can't get on the pitch for long enough.
"Everton can defend and they're organised under Sean, he's done a good job since he's come in. They look more organised but they can't score goals. The majority of Everton's goals have come from defenders and that picture paints a really worrying scene going forward. I really do fear for them this season."
He concluded: "Everton need a striker on the pitch, because right now, and it kills me to say this, but Everton are going down."
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