Jamie Carragher has revealed he does not want Everton to be relegated as the Blues face Bournemouth on Sunday needing to win to secure Premier League survival.
Sean Dyche replaced Frank Lampard in the Goodison Park hotseat and the former Burnley boss has been tasked with steering them out of the relegation zone. However, while they remain outside the bottom three, their position remains precarious as a win for Leicester City and Leeds United could see them relegated.
The Blues must match the result of the Foxes, who currently have a better goal difference, with Dean Smith's side currently two points off safety and hope the Hammers can get a result at Elland Road.
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Writing in The Telegraph as part of his column, Carragher said: "As a boyhood blue and former Liverpool player, then, like now, I was asked if I want Everton to go down. My answer is a firm no.
"The reason has nothing to do with my childhood allegiances. My heart divorced itself from Goodison Park the moment I became established as a Liverpool player in the late 90s. I have spent the last 25 years seeing Everton as ‘them’ when it used to be ‘us’.
"Everton fans do not deserve to be relegated into the Championship... I cannot separate myself from is the emotional turmoil my friends and family are suffering as a result of Everton’s predicament. I know what they are going through, and it is hell.
"You can not underestimate how much football means to the people of my city, red and blue. I have friends who have not been able to sleep for weeks because they are worried about what relegation means for their lives, the club and the community."
Everton have not suffered relegation since 1950-51 but have faced the drop on the final day previously. In recent seasons, fans have been discussing their nerves ahead of the curtain-closers in 1994 and 1998.
The former Liverpool defender grew us as a blue before ending his allegiances when he signed for the Reds. But he emphasised that his views don't match those of other supporters, he said: "My view is not representative of every Liverpool supporter. There will be many who hope Everton do go down.
"I must admit, when I have seen how gleefully Liverpool’s most difficult moments, such as narrowly failing to win the Premier League and Champions League, have been vociferously celebrated by the blues – many proactively supporting Manchester City and Real Madrid – you can understand why some on the Kop will be backing Bournemouth this weekend.
"But I am proud that the city of Liverpool is the only one outside of London that has been able to boast two top-flight clubs for 61 consecutive years, Everton’s run extending beyond their neighbours’.
"None of the other major cities of England with two hugely supported clubs – Manchester, Birmingham or Sheffield – has been able to match that. To me, that fact makes Liverpool this country’s premier football city..."
Falling into the Championship would see a Premier League campaign without a Merseyside derby for the first time since its inception in 1992.
Should the Blues avoid the drop, Carragher notes there are still burning issues that need to be addressed in the blue half of Merseyside after fans have voiced their discontent in recent seasons with protests at home games since the turn of the year.
"The prospect of losing the Merseyside derby in the Premier League is too much of a concession," he continued.
"Whatever happens on Sunday, I am not sure the reaction will be the same at full time. Obviously there will be immediate joy if Everton win, but there is too much anger that those running the club have put the supporters through this experience again for any celebrations to last.
"I believe Everton will stay up because since Dyche took over they have become one of the most effective set-piece teams in the Premier League – centre-backs are responsible for most of Everton’s goals – and no side in the top division has conceded more from corners and free-kicks than Bournemouth. That is where the game can be won and lost.
"I will not be as worried as my 14-year-old self watching Everton. I will not be celebrating if they win or shedding tears for them if they lose. The club is where it deserves to be at this moment.
"The Everton fans, however, deserve much better. Above all, it is those supporters who I do not want to see relegated into the Championship."
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