Financial fears and Dyche’s defence problem: the key questions for Everton

Everton have four Premier League games to avoid a first relegation since 1951. The club have been resident in the top flight since returning from the old Second Division in 1954 and, according to the latest accounts, their “ability to continue as a going concern” will be in doubt should they fall through the trapdoor this month. Just what are their prospects of survival before Monday’s visit to European hopefuls Brighton?

Fractionally and, with an average of one point per game since taking over, not by enough to avoid a relegation the club cannot afford. Everton were second bottom when the former Burnley manager replaced Frank Lampard on 30 January – one day before the transfer window closed – and that’s where they remain.

There was an initial bounce with Dyche winning two of his opening three matches, against Arsenal and Leeds; both 1-0, both at Goodison Park and both with an organisation and resilience reminiscent of the new manager’s best days at Turf Moor. Since then, however, the team have regressed to type.

Their current run is worryingly similar to the one that led to Lampard becoming the sixth Everton manager sacked in under seven years by Farhad Moshiri, the hapless owner. Everton have won once in 11 Premier League games, scoring 10, conceding 22 and collecting eight points. Lampard’s last 11 league games brought one win, seven goals for, 19 against and five points.

Better managers than Dyche have understandably struggled with an imbalanced, limited squad that the Everton hierarchy has weakened since last season’s brush with relegation. The team’s league position is an accurate reflection of the level served up all season, with their lack of firepower proving predictably costly.

But some Dyche decisions have