While most of the critics in the UK agree that Everton will stay in the top echelon of the English game, some of the club’s players have remarked that they are on tenterhooks and must take notice of their position in the Premier League standings.

Everton captain Phil Jagielka admits that Everton have been dragged into the relegation fight as they are only six points ahead of third-bottom Burnley with nine matches to go.

Jagielka pulled no punches when assessing his team’s situation, yet the 3-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday gave them a needed boost.

The Blues, who are still involved in the Europa League, have won just two Premier League games since December 15.

Which begs the question… is the Europa League having a negative impact on Everton’s domestic form?

Everton have spent a record 110 years (this season not included) in the top flight, and the last time they dropped down a division was in 1951.

“We have nine games left and need to pull our socks and start picking up more points,” Jagielka was quoted as saying after last weekend’s match against Newcastle.

Although the fans have stood by the team, some did turn on the players and Jagielka understands their frustrations. The defender knows why they are so upset after the Blues performed so well to finish fifth last season.

“It has been a difficult season to watch us because the performances have not been as good as last season,” Jagielka admitted.

Club legend Graeme Sharp said Everton’s opponents are content to let them have the ball because they know the Blues struggle to score – they have managed just 36 league goals in 29 games.

“Most of the critics have written that, if you look at the run of fixtures and the fact that they were not in fact playing that badly, one can foresee a situation where Everton could get to at least 40 points,” Sharp said.

“I genuinely still believe that they will end this season strongly and expect them to win seven of the nine remaining games.”

Indeed, it is a marvellous feat for Everton to have spent so many seasons in the top division.

From the first kick of the ball in 1888-89, when the first Football League came into existence, to this day, the Toffees have stuck to their task of providing their supporters the best there is, although honours have been few and far between.

Season Pos. Pl W D L F A Pts
2013-14 5th 38 21 09 08 61 39 72
2012-13 6th 38 16 15 07 55 40 63
2011-12 7th 38 15 11 12 50 40 56
2010-11 7th 38 13 15 10 51 45 54
2009-10 8th 38 16 13 09 60 49 61
2008-09 5th 38 17 12 09 31 39 63
2007-08 5th. 38 19 08 11 55 33 65
2006-07 6th 38 15 13 10 52 36 58
2005-06 11th 38 14 08 16 34 49 50
2004-05 4th 38 18 07 13 45 46 61
2003-04 17th 38 09 12 17 45 57 39
2002-03 7th 38 17 08 13 48 49 59
2001-02 15th 38 11 10 17 45 57 43
2000-01 16th 38 11 09 18 45 59 42
1999-00 13th 38 12 14 12 59 49 50
1998-99 14th 38 11 10 17 42 47 43
1997-98 17th 38 09 13 16 41 56 40
1996-97 15th 38 10 12 16 44 57 42
1995-96 6th 38 17 10 11 64 44 61
1994-95 15th 42 11 17 14 44 51 50
1993-94 17th 42 12 08 22 42 63 44
1992-93 13th 42 15 08 19 53 55 53

Seasons outside top flight

1953-54                
Division 2 2nd 42 20 16 06 92 58 56
1952-53                
Division 2 16th 42 12 14 16 71 75 38
1951-52                
Division 2 7th 42 17 10 15 64 58 44
1930-31                
Division 2 1st 42 28 05 09 121 66 61

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.