The Premier League’s 2023/24 season is well underway, and fans have been given a clear idea of the relative strength of various teams’ squads.
Manchester City looks well-positioned to win the league title yet again, and Liverpool and Arsenal look strongly suited to mount a challenge at the top. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table, the newly promoted teams look to be in danger.
The current campaign also raises questions about staying power for one of the country’s oldest clubs: could Everton be knocked out of the Premier League for the first time ever?
Everton: Relegation For the First Time?
Everton have flirted with the prospect of relegation for the past two seasons, and their performances at the beginning of 2023/24 suggest they may have not learned from their mistakes just yet.
In the opening five league fixtures, Everton picked up just a single point during an away game to relegation rivals Sheffield United.
It’s now a genuine possibility that a Premier League founding club could be relegated from the top flight this season. Most online sportsbook tips and betting markets indicate that Everton may very well be in trouble, with their prospect of being relegated alongside a duo of league newcomers currently quite high.
Sean Dyche’s side did make some smart signings in the summer, such as Beto from Fiorentina. The Portuguese forward has physicality and height, which is ideal for Dyche’s system.
While the Toffees have finally acquired a reliable and exciting forward option, the supporting cast may not create regular clear-cut chances for the frontman.
Everton have had to settle for a long past-his-best Ashley Young as a fullback. In addition, they recently lost Alex Iwobi to Fulham on deadline day, which has left the midfield short. Despite potentially solving their issues in attack, the club has been forced into neglecting other areas due to financial constraints in the transfer market.
Dyche’s team now faces a huge risk of unveiling their brand-new stadium, the Bramley-Moore Dock, as a championship side. The financial impacts of going down would be catastrophic for the club, considering the loans taken out to build the stadium, based on the club’s Premier League finances.
If Everton are to be relegated this season, it will undoubtedly be the biggest relegation story due to their long history with the tournament. But which other clubs look to be in danger based on the opening stages of the campaign?
Newcomers Likely to Go Straight Back Down
Burnley, Sheffield United, and Luton Town were all promoted to the Premier League ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Truthfully, Burnley has strengthened all over the pitch and, despite beginning poorly, has gotten several challenging games out of the way.
Sheffield United and Luton, however, look to be likely relegation candidates. In truth, the pair host many players who aren’t up to top-flight standard within their ranks, and it would be a remarkable feat if they could somehow stay up.
Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers are slight outsiders regarding ranking the most likely sides to be relegated. The trio of Everton, Sheffield United, and Luton look to be the most likely to go down – they lack significant quality compared to the former two, and the transfer window has already bypassed them.
Newly promoted teams returning to the Championship wouldn’t be major news, but Everton’s dip would be major news worldwide. Surely Everton can’t escape their expected fate for a third time running?
