Louis Saha makes bold Everton claim and sends message to Richarlison

Louis Saha reckons his former club Everton have the quality to challenge the top four next season.

It might sound a bold prediction from the 43-year-old given that Frank Lampard’s side finished 16th last season and only secured their Premier League status with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win in their final home game against Crystal Palace but such claims do have a historical precedent.

Everton finished 2021/22 with just 39 points, the joint lowest equivalent points total in the club’s history, but the only other time they had such a paltry haul (in 2003/04), they recovered to rise to fourth place the following year in what was their highest Premier League placing to date.

And a hopeful Saha believes that the Blues might be able to achieve something similar next term and, when speaking to BoyleSports Premier League, said: “A lot of teams in the Premier League can be in the top six and become the challenger to the top four and Everton can be one of those teams, it just depends how you start the season and how well you manage the confidence within the team.

“I think Lampard has managed the situation of injuries and fixture congestion really well and I believe if they play with confidence and emotion, Everton can do amazing things next year. The Premier League is so tough. It’s not just about whether you have the quality, it’s also about communicating and having that team spirit that you build throughout the season and emphasise with the fans. Those are the things that make a strong side.

“Frank Lampard has a lot of quality players in his team, especially the strikers so the fans should have hope, but they have to fix the defence.

“In the last three or four years I’ve seen a change in Everton, they’ve become easier to beat and