Everton's incredible run of Premier League consistency is under major threat in the final week of the 2022/23 campaign as the Toffees fight for survival.
A 99th-minute equaliser from Yerry Mina to rescue a point against Wolves in their penultimate game has given Toffees fans huge hope, but will it be enough to keep them up?
Former Burnley boss Sean Dyche was brought in back in January, to replace Frank Lampard, but his plan for safety has not clicked at Goodison Park.
The situation remains very tight on Merseyside, with Dyche and many of his players experienced in relegation battles, but their proud record as a top-flight club is on the line.
Everton were one of the founding members of the Premier League ahead of the 1992/93 season, and despite only winning one major trophy since then, they have never dropped out of the top tier.
MORE: Updated Premier League table
When were Everton last relegated?
Everton last suffered relegation way back in 1950-51, but the Toffees bounced back a couple of years later, securing a second-place finish in the 1953-54 Second Division, to earn promotion back to the top flight.
That incredible run makes Everton the second-longest ever-present team in the English top flight, with only Arsenal maintaining their top-flight status for longer. The Gunners have been a top-tier club in every season since the 1919-20 campaign.
Everton have been a top-flight club longer than rivals Liverpool (since 1962-63), Manchester United (1975-76), Tottenham (1978-79), and Chelsea (1989-90).
However, the current predicament is nothing new for embattled Everton fans, with late season rallies commonplace on the blue side of Stanley Park in the past decade.
Everton finished 17th twice in the 1990s, and despite a period of relative solidity under David Moyes, they have slipped since his departure a decade ago.
Frank Lampard's side just about held off relegation last season, to eventually finish 16th, but the 2022/23 picture looks equally precarious for Dyche's charges.
Are Everton getting relegated?
Everton have one game left to save their Premier League position in the 2022/23 run-in with that match coming against Bournemouth.
Projections by FiveThirtyEight place Everton as the third most likely team to be relegated and join basement boys (and already demoted) Southampton.
Leeds have one match left against Tottenham while Leicester face West Ham on the final day.
If there were no changes from the current table, Leicester and Leeds United would go down with Saints and Everton would survive by the skin of their teeth.
Premier League table: The bottom four
*Standings correct as of May 28, 2023
| Pos | Team | Points | Matches Played |
Goals Scored |
Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17. | Everton | 33 | 37 | 33 | -24 |
| 18. | Leicester City | 31 | 37 | 49 | -18 |
| 19. | Leeds United | 31 | 37 | 47 | -27 |
| 20. | Southampton - R | 24 | 37 | 32 | -37 |
Everton's remaining Premier League fixtures
- May, 28. vs Bournemouth (Home)
What Everton need to survive relegation
Despite the mythology surrounding the magic 40-point survival mark, the real bottom line for average Premier League safety is almost always lower.
Since the Premier League became a 20-team competition in 1995/96, the average points total of the 18th-placed team has been 35.2, meaning 36 points has often been enough to secure safety. Since 2000, 37 points has been enough to retain Premier League status on all but four occasions.
Everton have 33 points from 37 games, meaning they need to win to be certain of survival. If they draw or lose, one of Leicester or Leeds would have the chance to move above them and out of the relegation places, but only with a victory.
