Top six is not yet out of reach for Everton
Liverpool's stunning 5-2 victory at Fulham ended Everton's chances of catching their Merseyside rivals but they are not yet out of contention for a fourth Premier League top-six finish in five years, even though there is only one set of results that will make such a feat possible.
The Toffees are an intriguing [48.0] to sign off for the season in the top six and to do so they will need to overtake one-time title contenders Tottenham, however the sequence that would see the goal achieved is not quite as impossible as the lengthy odds appear to indicate.
For starters, David Moyes' men would need to maintain the form that has made them the second best team in the division over the last ten games by winning away at West Brom and at home to Chelsea, two admittedly tough tasks aided by the fact that neither side has much to play for.
Should they fulfil their half of the bargain, Everton will require a few favours from elsewhere, including two clubs they aren't particularly keen on, as they need Spurs to fall to defeats away to fellow positional rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
Were those matches to play out in that matter, Tottenham would head into their final fixture of the campaign against Birmingham at White Hart Lane on a morale-shredding run of just one win in 14, an awfully uninspiring streak ahead of a clash they would have to triumph in to stay in the top six.
Gareth Bale's season-ending injury is another blow in the Lilywhites' attempts to prevent their poor springtime form from spiralling completely out of control, but the picture isn't quite as gloomy as we may be illustrating, as a single Spurs victory will be enough to kill off Everton's late challenge.
Can Everton climb past Spurs, or have they left it too late? Tell us below...
Published: 10 May 2011
Pedant (May 10, 2011 11:59 AM) said:
"even though there is only one set of results that will make such a feat possible."
Wrong, on current form City and Liverpool could put a big dent in Spurs goal difference with Evertons only one worse off.
Even a draw against Birmingham would see Everton finishing above spurs should they make it past Chelsea (something Everton have done a few times in recent history)
Betfair Football (May 10, 2011 12:46 PM) said:
Thanks for the comment. Indeed a draw would be good enough for Everton to overtake as Tottenham's goal difference will have gone down by at least two and Everton's up by the same amount.
We did point out in the story that anything other than a Tottenham win would see Everton claim sixth in that scenario, though as you point out, that is technically two different sequences of results!
Allen (May 10, 2011 12:57 PM) said:
We wont get anything against Birmingham - not even a draw - as we are playing West Brom.
mindofmoyes (May 10, 2011 1:23 PM) said:
never say never cant see spurs doing anything at citeh or lpool but can see them battering brum
everton have west brom away will be hard but they beat us 4-1 at goodison so revenge would be sweet served cold and then chelski who are'nt exactly scaring anyone but themelves at the moment have to sort out me passport
Betfair Football (May 10, 2011 2:09 PM) said:
Thanks again for the comments, Everton fans. Allen - Everton are playing West Brom and Chelsea, Spurs are playing Man City, Liverpool and Birmingham.
moyesboyz (May 10, 2011 3:13 PM) said:
It is a possibility ...a slim chance and the odds are still inviting. But even the most ardent Evertonian has settled for 7th place now... mind you 6 months ago 17th was looking more likely. another season of 'if only' sets over my beloved Goodison Park.... Why can't we start as mid-table contenders?... we would be in europe every year.