Like the rest of English football, Everton are facing an enforced break after this weekend’s fixtures were postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. But opinion remains divided as to whether this scenario might help or hinder Frank Lampard’s side.
Six games into the Premier League season, the Blues are still waiting for their first victory but they are unbeaten in their last four matches and produced an encouraging display to draw 0-0 with neighbours Liverpool at Goodison Park last time out. Although many of sports have resumed action this weekend after being called off on Friday, unlike after the last previous death of a monarch, King George VI in 1952 when the full programme continued, football’s authorities took the decision to postpone all of this weekend’s domestic fixtures in all home nations of the United Kingdom as a mark of respect.
Everton’s trip to Arsenal scheduled for Sunday is therefore off but next weekend’s games – including the Blues home match with David Moyes’ West Ham United set for Sunday September 18 – could also be under threat as large numbers of police officers from across the country prepare to descend on London for the late Queen’s state funeral. With an international break following that, the Blues face the potential prospect of a 29-day gap between matches from the Merseyside Derby on September 3 to their visit to Southampton on October 1.
