Everton boss Sean Dyche makes points deduction claim ahead of Man City meeting

27 December 2023 , 06:30

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Sean Dyche is not paying too much attention to the Premier League table as Everton await their appeal. (Image: David Blunsden/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)

Sean Dyche sees no reason to consider how the Premier League table would look if Everton had 10 extra points.

The Toffees host champions Manchester City tonight still clear of the relegation zone despite their deduction for breaching the Premier League ’s financial rules. An appeal has been submitted and without the punishment Everton would be challenging for a Europa League spot.

But Dyche, who is expected to be without midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye because of an injury sustained at Tottenham on Saturday, says he has not been tempted to ponder where Everton will stand if they get the decision overturned.

“There’s no point because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “It is what it is. I’ve told the players to look at where we are because that is the truth of it now.

“That’s it. We don’t know what’s going to happen. We didn’t know it was going to happen the first time. Trust me everyone’s eyes were wide open on that. The eyes of everyone in football was.

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“Who knows? The only thing we can guarantee is what’s happening now. We can’t guarantee the next steps of the appeal. We have got to wait and see.”

Dyche has limited options in midfield for tonight’s meeting with the new club world champions. The initial assessment of Gueye’s leg injury was that it “doesn’t look promising” and Abdoulaye Doucoure remains a few days away from a return to training.

And while the Toffees boss was delighted to see Andre Gomes score in his first appearance of the season at Spurs, the Portuguese must be managed conservatively.

“We’re going to have to be careful,” Dyche added. “It’s the hardest thing we’ve had to do. Now we’re having to manage their bodies, who gets minutes and not. That’s part of the modern game. We’ve got better support systems but it’s a balancing act to make sure they can play.

“We knew when we skinnied down the squad in the summer it was going to be a challenge. You try to fill slots the best you can and get balanced. Runs like this put pressure on the squad, that’s the way it goes.”

Alan Smith