Everton are set to begin their second hearing with an independent commission next week and the outcome could have a huge impact on the relegation battle.
The Toffees were initially docked ten points in November for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. Later, it was reduced to six after a successful appeal.
Earlier this week, Nottingham Forest were docked four points for the same reason which puts them in the relegation zone. Now, Everton will face another round of hearings and as per football finance expert Rob Wilson, the Toffees will get a similar punishment to that of Forest.
The Premier League have maintained that deducting points is the appropriate sanction for any PSR breach. Everton’s first breach fell under the “significant” breach category of PSR, and since they’ve crossed the threshold limit of losses yet again, they are certain to receive another points deduction.
Wilson told inews that he expects Everton to lose another four points in their second hearing. If that happens, it will mean the Toffees would lose ten points in total in a single season, which is equivalent to three wins and a draw in the Premier League points system.
Everton set for another point deduction
Wilson said: “[The Forest verdict] means Everton are likely to get another points deduction, which I wasn’t anticipating. The Premier League don’t have a handbook that says if you breach by X, Y will happen, but they’re increasingly now writing that as they go along.
“The size of the breach from the second charge will now go into a scale. [Another four points] seems likely, which will take them to the 10 they had in the first place.”
If Everton lose four points, it will take them to 21 points. They will sit just above Nottingham Forest, on the same points but with a slightly better goal difference. Luton Town will be ahead of them by just a single point.
With nine games remaining, Everton will have a massive task on their hands to save themselves from getting relegated. The Toffees are yet to win a single game in 2024 and they will have to pick wins against teams like Forest, Sheffield United, Luton and Burnley to avoid the drop.
