It has been a long time since Everton was not involved in England’s top-flight league, but there is a real chance that streak comes to an end this year.
The season was spiraling away from the Toffees, who had fallen into the relegation zone with just six matches to play on the heels of six losses in seven games. Then, wins over Chelsea and Leicester City changed everything, climbing back out of the bottom three.
Still, there’s work to do. Everton coughed up a lead against Brentford on May 15, and with a slim two-point lead over the other relegation candidates (Leeds and Burnley), the danger of the drop still very much exists with two matches remaining.
Should Everton — a fixture in the top flight for decades — end up relegated, it would be one of the most unexpected drops in recent history, and a massive blow to a club and fan base that had hopes of challenging for a spot in the upper half of the Premier League table this season.
MORE: Premier League table, Champions League & relegation battles
| Place | Team | PTS | GP | GD | Next Match | Relegation probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | Southampton | 40 | 37 | -21 | @ LEI, May 22 | 0% |
| 16. | Everton | 36 | 37 | -20 | vs. CRY, May 19 | 9% |
| 17. | Leeds United | 35 | 37 | -38 | @ BRE, May 22 | 60% |
| 18.* | Burnley | 34 | 36 | -18 | @ AVL, May 19 | 31% |
| 19.* | Watford | 32 | 37 | -42 | @ CHE, May 22 | 100% |
| 20.* | Norwich City | 22 | 37 | -56 | vs. TOT, May 22 | 100% |
* = The bottom three teams are relegated to the second-tier Championship.
When was Everton last relegated?
Everton last suffered relegation in 1950-51, but the Toffees jumped back up a few years later, with a second-place finish in the 1953-54 Second Division earning them promotion to the top flight the following season.
That makes Everton the second-longest tenured team in the English top flight, with only Arsenal maintaining its top-flight status longer. Arsenal have been a top-tier club in every season since the 1919-20 campaign.
Everton have been a top flight club longer than Liverpool (since 1962-63), Manchester United (1975-76), Tottenham (1978-79), and Chelsea (1989-90).
How many times have Everton been relegated?
Everton have been relegated from the top flight twice, and have never played in a league lower than the second division in the club’s history.
Since the club’s inception in 1887, its only relegations came in 1929-30 and 1950-51.
After each drop, Everton managed to return to the top flight quickly, going straight back up in 1930-31 after winning the Second Division title. It took three seasons to secure a return to the First Division in 1953-54.
Except for those four campaigns spent outside the top tier of English football, Everton have been in the top flight in every other season throughout the club’s history.
MORE: Premier League promotion & relegation odds
Will Everton be relegated?
Everton was, shockingly, in the relegation zone, but recent wins helped reverse course. While the club sits 16th, two points above the drop, it is still very possible that Everton could be relegated for the first time in the club’s Premier League history (since 1992-93), and for the first time in all league play since their return to the top flight for the 1954-55 season.
Since winning four of its first six Premier League matches of the season under former manager Rafa Benitez, Everton won just four games across the next 26 league games dating way back to the start of October (4W-18L-4D). But wins over Chelsea and Leicester City inside the final six games of the campaign fueled hope that disaster could be averted.
MORE: How Everton can avoid Premier League relegation
Norwich City and Watford are already confirmed to be going down, with both clubs mathematically relegated. According to data analytics website FiveThirtyEight, it’s a vicious battle between three clubs to avoid the final relegation spot, though Everton have the best chance to survive.
There’s still work to do for Everton in the final two matches against Crystal Palace and Arsenal, who will not make it easy.
Everton remaining match schedule
| Match | Date | Opponent | Home/ Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | May 19 | vs. Crystal Palace | H |
| 38 | May 22 | @ Arsenal | A |
Frank Lampard is confident that Everton can stay up this year. #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/jLY92noBlU
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 3, 2022
Relegation odds (as of May 17)
| Club | Relegation Odds (FanDuel) |
|---|---|
| Burnley | +190 |
| Everton | +700 |
| Leeds United | -180 |
How relegation could impact Everton
Relegation would prove a significant blow for Everton, with the lack of Premier League revenues weighing heavily on a squad full of players who could push to leave.
First and foremost among them would be Richarlison, with the Brazilian international joining Everton on a $43 million deal in 2018 and almost sure to expect Premier League football. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is also likely to be in demand with 42 caps for England. Center back Yerry Mina, a 27-year-old Colombian international would be a luxury in the Championship.
Manager Frank Lampard could be sacked if Everton are relegated, as he was hired with the specific goal of keeping the club afloat after the disastrous end to Rafa Benitez’s reign.
Lampard started his managerial career at Derby County in the second-tier Championship, leading them to the promotion final, where they lost to Aston Villa in May 2019.
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri pumped $135 million into the club in January, hoping to push the Toffees towards safety, but relegation could be catastrophic to the books.
