Jamie Carragher maintains that Everton will avoid relegation from the Premier League, despite remaining second bottom following a thrilling 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Leicester.
Sean Dyche's side took an early lead at the King Power Stadium on Monday before eventually having to come from behind and earn a deserved point through Alex Iwobi. The result leaves the Toffees in 19th place, behind both Leeds and Nottingham Forest, with only four games to go, yet Liverpool legend Carragher is more confident in Everton's survival hopes than their two rivals'.
"It feels like a better point for Everton. They were by far the better team," the former England defender told Sky Sports. "I actually think Everton's performance will worry Leeds and Nottingham Forest. If Everton can continue performing like that, they will get out of trouble."
Carragher then went on to say of the Toffees, who remain winless in their last seven matches: "It is a big point for Everton, but the performance was outstanding. Leicester had their chances but that performance, you see the crowd, the reaction; you felt like if a team was going to get the winner it would be Everton."
But why is the ex-Liverpool stalwart more confident in Dyche and co, who languish on 29 points after 34 games, than Leeds and Forest? "The actual performance more than anything," Carragher replied after the Toffees' energetic but sometimes erratic display which could've seen them 3-1 down at half-time if not for Jordan Pickford's penalty save to deny Leicester star James Maddison.
"I think if you were watching that as a Forest or Leeds player or supporter you'd be worried. The big thing for Everton is they've got two more away games out of the next three and they've won one away game all season. That's a huge problem. The one home game is against Manchester City. I've never felt Everton would go down at any stage really. I just look at the form that Leeds are in."
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He's certainly right to be concerned over Leeds' form, having lost 3-1 away to Bournemouth on Saturday, a result which looks to have secured the hosts' Premier League status. Leeds boss Javi Gracia is now on the brink of being sacked after just 12 games in charge, with Sam Allardyce in serious consideration to replace him in an attempt to rescue the Yorkshire side.
As for newly-promoted Forest, they fell to a 94th-minute dagger at Brentford over the weekend as they were beaten 2-1. Steve Cooper's men, who're also on 30 points like Leeds but boast a significantly worse goal difference, join Everton in the drop zone alongside doomed Southampton.
