Everton are deeply embroiled in another relegation battle this season, but for a refreshing change, they actually don’t deserve to be.
After all, were it not for the two separate points deductions administered to them this season, amounting to eight points, they would sit comfortably in 14th, ten points clear of Luton Town in 18th.
Such is the frustration that has stuck around Goodison Park all season, Sean Dyche has been the unfortunate figurehead of this torrid campaign riddled with setbacks out of his control.
And now, even Gary Lineker has seemingly had enough.
Gary Lineker speaks out about Premier League deductions
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, the former Everton, Leicester City and Barcelona striker enjoyed a rare moment of what seemed like frustration, as he was coerced into a passionate rant about PSR.
Travelling down the rabbit hole that many Evertonians have already tread, he questioned how the Premier League might maintain any integrity when their competition could be decided after all the football has been played.
He would also question who they could possibly employ to make such a lofty decision, as he grew more and more incensed as he went on.
Lineker noted: ‘I suppose if those teams [Sheffield United, Burnley or Luton Town] are down and then, I mean what happens then? If like, it’s one team just a point above, but they’ve got two points and a deduction and then that would have sent them down and then all of a sudden there’s a delay and there’s an appeal and that’s decided after the end of the season… what a mess!
‘And how does an independent tribunal, whatever you want to call it, decide on whether a team gets relegated or not? It’s… whatever they do, they need to sort it out fast and make some kind of decision quickly for everybody’s sake.’
This came just after he suggested that he knew who the Premier League actually wants to go down this season…
Everton could still face a third deduction…
What is the worst thing about all this mess is that we are far from finished.
Seemingly not content with handing Everton two deductions in one season on top of Nottingham Forest’s, Leicester City have already been provisionally sanctioned ahead of next season, whilst the Toffees have seen a portion of their trial delayed until a later date.
As the club continues to argue with the Premier League over loan interest costs relating to the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, there is even a threat that a negative outcome might result in a third points deduction.
That is at least what journalist David Ornstein suggested might happen.
There is seemingly no end in sight for Evertonians, who have been forced to endure one of the harshest seasons in recent history. And, judging by this, it’s only the beginning.