Everton's Premier League survival campaign resumes on Sunday as the Blues face a tricky away trip to West Ham United.
With the unwanted tag of having the worst away record in the Premier League, Frank Lampard will be hoping for a change of fortunes against David Moyes' Hammers who's Champions League hopes have drifted in the recent weeks. And Evertonians will have been buoyed by Watford and Burnley - the two teams directly below Everton - both losing yesterday, giving them somewhat of a free hit at the London Stadium today.
We've taken a look at what the national media are saying about the Toffees as they look to make Premier League survival a more likely outcome.
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In the Observer, Richard Jolly comments on Everton's poor performance off the pitch as well as on it, following the release of their most recent accounts on March 31.
He said: "Rarely has so much been spent to accomplish so little and if some speculate to accumulate, the danger is that Everton have speculated to relegate. A glimpse at a team with 15 defeats in 20 Premier League games can prompt questions about where the money has gone. Everton have the worst away record this season and the fewest points in the past six months even though around £550m has been spent on transfers during Farhad Moshiri’s largely ill-fated reign as owner.
"The School of Science has scarcely specialised in mathematics. The numbers have not added up. If Everton’s 68-year stay in the top flight comes to an end, the signings will be a reason for a historic slide. Alex Iwobi’s £28m fee makes him the fourth-most expensive arrival in Everton’s history and there was an element of understatement from the Nigerian when he was asked to describe his time at Goodison Park. “I feel it could always improve,” he says. There are more strident verdicts. He has been branded a waste of money."
The Mail's Charlie Walker has concerns about Everton's run-in, compared to their relegation rivals, as the Blues nervously look to maintain their long-running Premier League status.
He said: "Fans of the bottom six clubs in the Premier League will grasp any token of hope they can find as they look for encouragement in the fight for survival. And for Burnley, despite just three wins this season, the fixture list still makes for a relatively heartening read. On paper, the Clarets have the easier run in of any of the teams battling it out for survival; but for the supporters of Leeds and Everton, there is cause for concern.
"For both those clubs, the average league position of their opponents is in the top half with the mean position of the opposition for each club being 9.6. Everton's morale-boosting 99th-minute winner against Newcastle at Goodison Park last time out may have eased their jitters. However, the Toffees still sit one place above the relegation zone, and despite having two games in hand over third-from-bottom Watford, Everton are mired in the mix.
"An abject display at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup sixth round only three days after their victory over the Magpies had manager Frank Lampard questioning whether his lads have 'the b****cks' for the fight. And despite a spendthrift transfer policy in the previous five years, which will stretch the top-flight's profit and sustainability rules to the limit, Everton have been in steady decline this season, at least since the end of September.
"Everton have some tough fixtures, travelling to Liverpool and Arsenal, while Manchester United and Chelsea come to Merseyside. If they can steal some points at West Ham on Saturday, it will be a huge boost. Lampard will be particularly keen to see some 'cohones' when Palace visit the Toffees, in a game yet to be rearranged, and in home and away fixtures with Leicester City. Everton must look to pick up points in those matches, too."
Sky Sports tipster Lewis Jones isn't giving Everton much of a chance against West Ham, as he previews today's match.
He said: "It takes a well-organised and defensively disciplined side to cause David Moyes' team problems, which is something Everton are not, and I'm expecting a dominant showing from the Hammers, with Antonio at the forefront.
"Everton crumble defensively under minimal pressure and do not possess the backbone to pick up points away from home in the Premier League. They have the worst away record in the Premier League, with just six points taken from 13 games, the only win coming at Brighton. They are without a win in 11 away Premier League games, taking just two points from 33 available.
"Frank Lampard has not helped matters, either in terms of defensive structure on the road, conceding 14 goals in his four away games in charge across all competitions. Moyes will have noted that nine of those goals came via crosses into the Everton penalty area. West Ham have scored 13 goals from crosses this season - no team have scored more via that route. Antonio will be licking his lips at ending his 10-game Premier League drought."
