Everton are now 34 percent likely to suffer relegation from the Premier League this season following their ten-point deduction earlier today, according to Sky Sports.
The punishment comes in the aftermath of investigations that have found the Toffees guilty of breaching the division’s profit and sustainability regulations.
The Merseysiders have been under the microscope after their financial dealings revealed staggering losses of £371.8 million – £266.8m over their allocated budget.
The Premier League allows its clubs to incur losses of not more than £105m over a rolling three-year cycle, but Everton’s tally has more than doubled that figure, resulting in their record-breaking punishment.
The ten-point deduction has plunged the Toffees back to where they were at the start of the season, with the revised Premier League rankings placing them in 19th position with just four points.
Before their punishment, Sean Dyche’s side were handed a 3.5% chance of relegation despite their uninspiring start to the season.
After their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in mid-September, Everton have embarked on an impressive run of form, picking up four wins from their subsequent seven Premier League fixtures.
Dyche’s side had put some daylight between them and the bottom three, but their financial indiscretions have plunged them back into a relegation scrap.
After their sanction, Everton’s chances of relegation have seen a 30% surge, with the Toffees now predicted to have a 34.1% chance to drop out of the Premier League.
They have been drawn into a five-way tussle for survival. But with Dyche at the helm, Evertonians can be fairly optimistic about their chances of turning an uncomfortable situation on its head.
Even with their points tally reduced by ten, they’ll likely need around 30 points from their remaining 26 games to avoid the drop, considering the form of the newly promoted sides.
Dyche’s side welcome Erik ten Hag’s unconvincing Manchester United side to Goodison Park after the international break, where they will hope a raucous Merseyside crowd spurs them to an unlikely victory.
