Can the Toffees Make a Late Push for Europe?

If you'd asked this question at the beginning of the season, most Evertonians would have burst out laughing at the thought of this. Having spent multiple seasons in recent memory fighting for their survival, the fact that they are now so close to their archrivals and defending champions, Liverpool, with only half a dozen games to go, is miraculous and a testament to David Moyes' managerial acumen.

However, there's still a lot to do for the Toffees, and with some of their key players out for the rest of the season and many quality teams around them also looking to finish in that top 6, could Everton make a late push and pip their rivals to European football? Let's take a look and see how the final few games of the EPL could shape up.

Exploring the Odds

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As the Premier League has gone global, it has adopted the same framework. Looking at the odds, Everton is still not the favourite to finish in the top six. At the time of writing, they are at around 6/1, but with their next home game against Liverpool, a crunch game against their archrivals who are also going for the top 6, these odds could thin considerably if Everton can get the win.

The Power of Momentum

We've seen how teams can make spirited runs at the end of a season once they get into a good momentum swing. Negative momentum can also send teams down, as many believe is happening at the Spurs at the moment.

However, on the contrary, Everton will be hoping an emphatic 3-0 win against fellow European contenders Chelsea will do enough to put to bed the rumours about their chaotic home form, and if that victory can be the game that acts as a catalyst and sends them on a surge of positive momentum, Everton will take it right to the wire.

Chelsea find themselves in a perilous position in their quest for Europe. They were completely outclassed over two legs by PSG, and if Rosenior cannot get Chelsea into the Champions League again next season, it feels like he could be in trouble. There's already been significant talk about his short tenure, with the young manager facing incredible pressure.

Measuring the Rivals

Liverpool, Chelsea, and Brentford are still more likely to finish in the top 6, according to the sportsbooks, anyway. Ultimately, for Everton, their quest for European football could be decided by the end of April; their next two games are Brentford away and Liverpool at home.

It all depends on how the games shape up. Everton have Spurs on the final day. Could Spurs already be safe, or could they be mathematically relegated? They also have Man City at home, who could be visiting Hill Dickinson with second place guaranteed and Arsenal crowned as champions. All will be revealed over the coming weeks as the league takes a more final shape.

There are only 4 points separating Everton, on 8th, and Bournemouth, on 13th, at the moment. So, it's not just the rivals ahead that Everton need to keep an eye on; it's the chasing pack, too.

Final Thoughts

At the beginning of the season, Everton's goal was to avoid a relegation battle once again. This may sound like an unambitious target, but after multiple seasons of barely surviving, it is refreshing for plenty of Evertonians that they are not stuck in that chaotic whirlwind at the bottom of the table once again.

From this stage, though, they will be quietly confident of making a late push for Europe. If they can beat both Liverpool and Brentford, this charge will gain significant momentum. The outcome will hinge on these two games: lose both, and they can say goodbye to Europe; win one, and Evertonians will rally behind their team, helping them cross the finish line.

However, if we had to predict right now, we'd say Everton are probably going to miss out by the skin of their teeth and will finish gallantly in the top half but just run out of steam.