Project Restart: Everton return to Premier League action

The worst of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic might be over, or at least sufficiently that sports can make a return to our television screens. This week the Premier League will return to the spotlight after a three month shutdown, and there’s still some key battles up and down the table to be decided.

Like most other sides, Everton have nine games left to play which would determine their final position after the current campaign. The Blues languish in twelfth after just two wins in their last seven games, with Carlo Ancelotti’s ‘new manager bounce’ wearing off and chances of getting into Europe looking quite distant.

Premier League

The destination for the trophy looks settled, it’s more of a matter of when and where Liverpool clinch their first ever Premier League title. Manchester City, Leicester City and Chelsea have the top four sewed up, though if City are indeed banned from Europe next season, then that could allow crosstown rivals Manchester United into the Champions League fray.

Wolverhampton, Sheffield United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal will all then be battling for the Europa League spots, but it could really come down to which teams can get into a consistent groove quickest that could edge ahead.

The three relegation teams are not quite settled yet either, though things are looking bleak for Norwich City. Aston Villa are two points adrift of AFC Bournemouth, Watford FC and West Ham United, so things could get interesting from that front too. The Blues have games on tap with the first three of those five sides.

We took a realistic look at where Everton could end-up this season before diving into our recap-preview series starting with the coaching. It’s been so long since the Toffees were last on the pitch that it really feels like this is a new season, so we thought it best to summarize what has already transpired in 2019-20 as a refresher before Sunday’s Merseyside Derby.