Sky Sports may have just saved Everton from a nightmarish scenario unfolding towards the back end of the Premier League season.
As Evertonians are well aware, the club’s fate, both on and off the field, is far from set in stone. Of course, the news that 777 Partners’ proposed takeover is potentially being approved is positive, but it doesn’t detract from the ongoing issues at Goodison Park.
The Premier League is set to hear the club’s second PSR charge at the start of next week, which could lead to another points deduction. Everton’s position is already relatively perilous, and further docked points would make life extremely difficult, especially considering the side’s recent form.
For Evertonians, the prospect of relegation is bad enough; the prospect of facing Liverpool towards the end of the season would be catastrophic, a reality that, until Saturday, was firmly on the cards.
When were Everton set to play Liverpool?
Liverpool’s win in the FA Cup meant that the March 17 date for the Goodison Park derby had to be shelved.
The Liverpool Echo reported on February 6 that there was a genuine chance of the fixture falling in the last week of the season, which would have been a nightmare scenario.
Considering the two sides’ league positions, there could have been a genuine chance of Liverpool winning, relegating Everton, and handing Jurgen Klopp a fairytale title win.
Sky Sports has announced that the 244th Merseyside Derby has been rescheduled for April 24, avoiding the prospect of a last-week showdown.
Evertonians will be pleased to hear the news, the added narrative of Klopp’s Liverpool fairytale was undoubtedly not required heading into the dying embers of the season.
Sky’s decision does mean that Sean Dyche’s side faces three consecutive home fixtures in the space of a week next month, which could work in their favour.
As we saw last season, Goodison Park can be a tough place to visit, especially when the fans are firmly behind the team.
