Everton Relegation Odds: Why December Could Seal Their Fate

Everton’s Lack of Firepower

Scoring goals has been a persistent issue for Sean Dyche’s side. With just 10 goals in their opening 12 league games, only Southampton have a worse record. Their xG (expected goals) of 13.39 ranks among the league’s lowest, highlighting their inability to create clear-cut chances.

Underperforming their xG by a considerable margin is another concern, as only five Premier League teams have fared worse in this area. Everton’s long-term scoring struggles are evident, with an average of just 0.98 goals per game since the start of last season.

Defensive Woes Add to Everton’s Problems

While their attacking issues are stark, Everton’s defence hasn’t inspired confidence either. They’ve conceded 1.62 goals per game on average, well above the league’s mean of 1.46. A brief glimmer of hope came with consecutive clean sheets, but the heavy defeat against Manchester United quickly erased that progress.

A Nightmare December Schedule

Everton’s upcoming fixtures provide little respite. A midweek clash against Wolves is crucial, but the Toffees have failed to win their last six meetings against Gary O’Neil’s side. Wolves, who have netted 12 goals in their last five games, could add to Everton’s misery.

After Wolves, Everton face local rivals Liverpool, followed by title-chasing Arsenal, a resurgent Chelsea, and Manchester City on Boxing Day. This gruelling run could see the Toffees entrenched in the bottom three, making relegation an increasingly likely scenario.

With Everton’s odds for relegation expected to shorten significantly if results don’t improve, now might be the time to back them to go down.