Frank Lampard was confirmed as the new Everton manager just over a year after he was sacked as manager of Chelsea but has certainly found life rather difficult at Goodison Park.
If Everton, who have played in the top flight for decades in England, are relegated, it would be one of the most unexpected failures in recent history and a significant blow to the club and fans who hope to compete for a place in the top half Premier League standings this year.
Since Everton won four of the first six Premier League games of the season under former manager Rafa Benítez, the Toffees have only won three games, picking up just 12 points from their last 23 league games from the start.
For Everton this century, a bright start to the season has come as a surprise, especially since he moved into the controversial managerial role of former Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez.
Now Everton has neither a director of football nor an experienced manager, and it doesn’t seem like they intend to change that. The last director of football spent more than £300m over three-and-a-half years but only managed to get the club into the relegation zone.
Prominent football scout Steve Walsh later claimed he advised Everton to cheaply sign Andy Robertson, Harry Maguire and Erling Haaland, now three of the greatest in world football. Lost fans have protested against the council and boss Farhad Moshiri, even though the club desperately needs his vast investment.
After Norwich City and Watford, data analysis site FiveThirtyEight and other football tipster reviews have Everton as the second-most likely relegation prospect.
The pressure is certainly on in regard to surviving the drop this season, as they were beaten 3-2 by fellow strugglers Burnley on Wednesday night. The same kind of story has plagued Lampard with The Toffees, though, with his team unable to hold onto a lead and see out the game.
Everton lost a combined figure of over £300 million over the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons. Everton has often spent a lot of money on players in their prime or already in the past – a highly unsustainable, risky, short-term approach, especially for a club like Everton that cannot boast of next-level wealth.
It will certainly be interesting to see whether they will be able to get over the slump that has been experienced, although things look rather difficult at this moment, especially when you take into account the remaining fixtures that they have left to play.
