Everton manager Sean Dyche has admitted the club are puzzled by their latest point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Having already been docked six points in November for a similar infringement, the Toffees were hit with a further two-point deduction for PSR breach for the 2022/23 season.
The fresh punishment means that Everton will travel to Stamford Bridge this weekend to take on Chelsea, two points above relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and Luton Town with a game in hand.
While Everton will fancy their chances of avoiding the drop despite being forced to work without a total of eight points, Dyche has admitted that the second deduction was unexpected.
The Blues have launched an appeal that’s expected to yield a positive fruit, but the manager has called on his troops to focus on matters on the pitch ahead of a crucial clash against Chelsea.
“I think [my reaction] is similar to the last one,” Dyche said in his pre-match press conference when asked for his reaction to the second punishment.
“It’s unexpected in the sense we thought it had been dealt with. It obviously wasn’t or hasn’t been. There’s a time window to appeal, so the Club will be looking into that.
“Our focus is on the next round of games coming up. We’ve been through it once; we have to go through it again, and we are going to do. The games come thick and fast.”
Everton ended a 13-game winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Burnley last weekend, but to build on that, they have to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – a feat they haven’t managed in three decades (D13, L15).
They emerged victorious the last time they faced the Blues in the Premier League, running out 2-0 winners at Goodison Park.
No doubt Dyche will demand more of the same from his relentless troops, who are determined to preserve their 70-year run in the English top flight against all odds.