Former Liverpool star Michael Owen has boldly predicted that Everton could gatecrash the Premier League's top six this season, potentially at the expense of Chelsea. This forecast comes despite Everton's narrow 2-1 defeat to their Merseyside rivals Liverpool in the first-ever derby held at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday.
Dramatic Derby Decider
The contest appeared destined for a 1-1 draw until Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk steered home a dramatic 100th-minute winner, sending the Red half of Merseyside into raptures. Despite this setback, Owen maintains that David Moyes' side have demonstrated enough quality throughout the campaign to secure a coveted top-six finish.
Chelsea's Struggles Boost Everton's Prospects
Everton's cause received significant assistance from Manchester United's 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening. This result dealt a substantial blow to Liam Rosenior's hopes of guiding Chelsea into next season's Champions League, potentially opening the door for Everton's ascent.
A top-six finish would represent a monumental achievement for the Toffees, marking their highest Premier League position since the 2013/2014 season when they secured fifth place with 72 points. Such an accomplishment would signal a remarkable resurgence under Moyes' stewardship.
Title Race Implications
The former England striker also weighed in on the Premier League title race, suggesting Manchester City's crucial victory over Arsenal on Sunday has tipped the scales in Pep Guardiola's favour. Owen, who now represents Casino.org, exclusively told Mirror Football: "Well, you'd have to say that Man City have just gone slight favourites now."
He elaborated on his top-six prediction, stating: "I think Everton still could squeeze in. Chelsea have still got a couple of hard games to go and all's not well at Chelsea at the moment. So, there's a good feel about Everton. Maybe Everton could sneak in."
Liverpool's Crucial Derby Victory
Liverpool's dramatic derby triumph has significant implications for the Champions League qualification race. The victory leaves the Reds in fifth position, seven points clear of Chelsea and firmly in control of their destiny regarding next season's elite European competition.
Owen emphasized the importance of this result, noting: "I think it's a big result. Not just that result, but results in the last couple of weeks around Liverpool have been favourable as well."
He explained the psychological advantage gained: "That cushion of seven points now is significant because Liverpool have challenging fixtures against Villa, Chelsea, and Manchester United remaining. If the derby result had been reversed, with Everton trailing by just two points, it would have created a nerve-racking conclusion to the season."
Financial Implications of European Qualification
The former Real Madrid striker highlighted the crucial financial dimension of Champions League qualification, stating: "Those seven points now provide a lovely cushion. While it doesn't transform a disappointing season into a successful one for Liverpool, it virtually guarantees Champions League football, which carries enormous financial implications."
Owen elaborated on the competitive consequences: "If you don't secure that Champions League revenue, clubs inevitably fall behind their rivals. We've witnessed with other clubs how difficult maintaining competitiveness becomes without regular European football and the substantial financial rewards it brings."
Everton's potential top-six finish would not only represent a significant achievement for the club but could dramatically reshape the Premier League's established hierarchy, particularly if it comes at Chelsea's expense during a period of transition for the London club.
