Sean Dyche wants his players to finish on a high in Everton’s final Premier League home game of the season.
The Toffees welcome already relegated Sheffield United to Goodison Park on Saturday and will be playing with no pressure after securing their top-flight status for another year.
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It has been a rollercoaster ride for fans of the Merseyside club in 2023-24 after they were handed a 10-point deduction for breaching the league’s profit and sustainability rules.
That penalty was reduced to six points for their compliance during the investigation process and heading into the penultimate weekend they are 11 points above the drop zone, which is a testament to Dyche’s work since arriving at the start of 2023.
Everton have one of the best defensive records in the Premier League, conceding just 49 goals, the fourth-best record in the division.
The latest team news ahead of #EVESHU…
Watch live: https://t.co/WR5QlPgRaj pic.twitter.com/0jRz2XcRyi
— Everton (@Everton) May 9, 2024
Their record at home has been average though, winning seven games, drawing four and losing seven.
But there will be a part atmosphere in the air on Saturday when the Blades come to town.
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Speaking ahead of the match, Dyche said: “A run of really good home, not just performances because they weren’t as important as the outcomes and that was wins.
“We want to add to that. Maybe the payback from our early season form when we were dominating games and couldn’t win and then over the last few weeks we have done very well in a different format and we want to do that again.
“We want to reward all of us really – the players, the staff and the fans for what ends up being a positive season at a tricky time. We want to finish it off with a win.
“It is ongoing but I think his thirst is to keep playing.”
Sean Dyche discusses Seamus Coleman’s future: pic.twitter.com/NfIfBepHj1
— Everton (@Everton) May 9, 2024
“You have to focus on the players and remind them of the pride and consistency we have in our values as a group to go and perform.
“I think that’s important to keep reminding them of that so when the whistle blows we’ve got to be ready.”
Takeover talks
The former Burnley head coach was also quizzed on 777 Partners’ pending takeover of the club, which has yet to be resolved.
A deal was due to be struck before the end of 2023 before being pushed back until February and there is still no official confirmation that the American firm has acquired Farhad Moshiri’s 94% stake.
“Unfortunately it’s not that case at the moment”
Sean Dyche isn’t getting involved with ownership talks as he focuses on his team and the games ahead 💪 pic.twitter.com/KzAXcX5637
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 9, 2024
When asked if the facade had impacted him at all this season, he said: “Well I didn’t know at the time and ever since I got here I have been tying to manage a situation when the goalposts move significantly at any given time so I don’t think I am in new waters on that side.
“That’s the shifting sands at this football club, currently. I’ve said many times you want to put a base into the football club to build from and it’s not quite there yet.
“There’s a lot of news out there, until I’m told, factually, any different then nothing changes from my point of view.
“There’s a lot going on. I think we have spoken on this subject before. It’s not just as simple as ‘the club is up and running, buy it’. I don’t think it’s that situation.
“You’ve got the new ground here, the complexity of the finances here – that has become obvious, staying in the division which has now been achieved of course.
“There is a lot going on. I don’t know if all of those points are necessary but I’d imagine there’s a lot of detail that goes into buying this football club and that would take some time.”
