The fallout from Everton's Premier League points deduction continues.
The Blues are set to appeal against the decision this week, while a number of other clubs, including Leicester City and Leeds United, could seek compensation.
The 10 points docking means Everton have moved down into the relegation zone, though a number of pundits are under the impression that Sean Dyche can still steer the club to safety.
Meanwhile, speculation continues surrounding possible punishments for Manchester City and Chelsea, who have been charged and are said to be under investigation respectively by the Premier League.
With the international break at an end, Everton can at least try and look forward to the match against Manchester United on Sunday. Fan protests against the Premier League are expected to take place with Sky Sports said to be taking action to cancel out offensive chanting during the game.
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That is it for today, make sure come back tomorrow for what is certainly going to be a lively one with Sean Dyche speaking to the press for the first time since, well, you know.
Goodnight Blues!
Paul Merson's 'mindblowing' prediction
It looks like as updates on the scale of Everton supporters' protests arrive closer to the weekend, the Premier League's pundits are believing that the Blues can come up with a positive result against Manchester United.
The visitors haven't had the best of times this season though have shown their quality to hurt any team in glimpses. However, Paul Merson feels that the fury of the Evertonians feeling wronged by the Premier League's recent punishment will spur the home side onto victory
"The atmosphere at Goodison Park will be mindblowing this Sunday. After what happened with Everton’s point deduction, the fans are going to be up for this one," he told Sportskeeda via Football365. "I don’t see Everton losing this game. It’s us against the world as far as Sean Dyche’s men are concerned and Goodison Park will be rocking.
"Manchester United will be up against a team determined to prove everyone wrong. I’d actually be shocked if Everton got beaten in this one. Everton players work hard for each other and that is something we can’t really say about the Red Devils at this point in time."
Hugo Ekitike exit likely
Paris Saint-Germain allegedly already have settled on their plans for Hugo Ekitike - their French striker who was linked with a transfer to Everton during the summer.
With the Ligue 1 champions recently taking up the option to make Goncalo Ramos' loan from Benfica permanent, Le Parisien claim that an exit in January is the most likely option for Ekitike. Not really a surprise given the fact he's played only eight minutes this season...
Now since he was linked, Beto has signed for the Blues whilst Dominic Calvert-Lewin has come back fit and firing, so it will be interesting to see at least where the PSG man ends up as there were plenty of clubs - including others in the Premier League - that were linked too.
Jarrad Branthwaite claim
Something has to be said about the timing of this - not long after Everton's points deduction due to financial trouble, their next match against Manchester United three days away - but according to TEAMtalk Jarrad Branthwaite's name is top of the Blues' next opponents shopping list...
They explain how the defensive department of Erik ten Hag's squad will need to undergo a major surgery in 2024 due to players leaving and the 21-year-old is a primary target from within the Premier League. There are also others named as targets from across Europe.
Interestingly, it is said that as Branthwaite spent last season on loan at PSV Eindhoven, Ruud van Nistelrooy has been able to give a glowing review to his former club.
Manchester United injury latest
Looking solely at the match on Sunday, Everton's opponents Manchester United have provided an update on the fitness of two of their players.
Firstly, Erik ten Hag is sweating over the fitness of striker Rasmus Hojlund. He told the club website: "Rasmus Hojlund, not too bad. Everton will be a close finish but we're working on that. We're not sure if he can make that but, hopefully, in the next week, he will return to the squad."
And following on from that, Christian Eriksen will not be available - a boost for the Blues. "Christian will take a little bit longer," added Ten Hag. "It will take some weeks until he will return."
Everything being done to challenge the Premier League amid appeal
We're almost a week on since Everton were handed their punishment breaching profitability and sustainability rules.
From that first club statement to protests organised by supporters ahead of this coming weekend, events have unfolded rapidly. However, there is still plenty more to be done as the club undergo the proper appeal process.
Read Joe Thomas' summary of events so far and the action that is currently being taken HERE.
David Ornstein on future FFP punishments
One major factor of Everton's 10-point deduction is that it is yet unknown whether the Premier League will maintain their discipline by handing out punishments in line with the Blues' to other clubs for financial breaches.
Now speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the Athletic's David Ornstein joined regulars Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and co. to discuss the idea, alluding to Manchester City's ongoing investigations.
"Everyone is saying that Manchester City must be relegated if found guilty, but we don't know because they are not charged with the same things," he began, explaining how the situation is far from crystal clear.
"Playing devil's advocate, Everton admitted their wrongdoing, it's there in the report and so they complied to say let's get this over and done with.
"Manchester City deny any wrongdoing, strenuously, and they claim to have irrefutable evidence… they are waiting for the Premier League to bring the case; we don't know where is the independent panel?
"This is much more complicated and if you think that Everton's case of one charge ran into tens of thousands of pages of documentation, what do you think about Manchester City's with 115 charges?"
So, it appears we're on a long road to find clarity in this matter...
Former Everton striker finds new club
Oumar Niasse has signed for Northern Premier League side Macclesfield FC on a short-term deal.
"We must see this implemented with every club"
Tim Cahill has joined the conversation calling for change in the Premier League surrounding clubs.
The Blues icon has spoken out after Everton were charged by the Premier League before an independent commission suggested a 10-point deduction.
In a tweet, he said: "The decision for @Everton has set the bar for the @premierleague and football. Now we must see this implemented with every club and every case opened up and looked at under a microscope like they have done to @Everton Governance is important for the league and so is consistency."
The decision for @Everton has set the bar for the @premierleague and football. Now we must see this implemented with every club and every case opened up and looked at under a microscope like they have done to @Everton Governance is important for the league and so is consistency. https://t.co/8HpH6zjhdw
— Tim Cahill AO (@Tim_Cahill) November 23, 2023
Plans for Goodison Park march
The Brick pub has published plans to do a march to Goodison Park ahead of Sunday's clash with Manchester United.
Let’s make this the biggest pic.twitter.com/C0l8lbsI39
— The Brick Pub (@Thebrickpub) November 23, 2023
Manchester United suffer double injury scare
According to the MEN, Manchester United could be without nine players after Andre Onana and Facundo Pellistri became the latest players to suffer an injury at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are already likely to have Lisandro Martinez (foot), Casemiro (hamstring), Jonny Evans (thigh), Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen (knee) unavailable for selection.
Rasmus Holjund suffered a hamstring strain against Luton Town, prior to the international break, which forced him to withdraw from the Denmark squad.
"It won't turn Everton into f****** Barcelona"
Roy Keane and Ian Wright have disagreed over who will win when Everton take on Manchester United on Sunday.
"Everton. I'm going to go for Everton," said Wright on the Stick to Football Podcast.
Keane argued: "Don't fall into that. But because of the atmosphere, it won't turn Everton into f****** Barcelona, it's still the same players."
The Blues take on United at Goodison Park on Sunday, but Wright believes the Blues have a point to prove.
"This Everton side against United. I'd go 3-0 Everton."
But the former United midfielder wasn't having it.
"Everyone thinks because Everton are down, they'll be up and be like f****** Barcelona and United will turn over. They're (Everton) not bad, at home still a bit dodgy."
However, Wright couldn't resist a final punt on the Blues. He said: "I think against this United side, if they (Everton) can keep up that pressure, I think they beat them."
Gary Neville weighs in on Everton punishment
Speaking on The Overlap, Gary Neville believes Everton should feel aggrieved by their 10-point deduction in the Premier League for breaching Profit and Sustainability rules.
"The trust and faith has gone completely. The greed, I’m not going to say corruption, but the greed and selfishness is out of control - it’s lawless. The Premier League is a defunct organisation because they’ve got 20 clubs voting with self-interest and not with the greater interests of the game at heart."
Sky Sports plans to silence Everton Premier League protest during Man United match
Sky Sports will reportedly sound out crowd noise during Everton's home match against Manchester United on Sunday as to avoid bad language airing on television during fan protests.
In a report from the Times, it is explained how Sky are required to comply with Ofcom's rules and would risk breaking those if Everton supporters' planned protests filter through the live match audio.
Organisers of the protest against the Blues' 10-point deduction for a single breach of the Premier League's financial profitability and sustainability rules are said to be calling on their fellow Evertonians to chant "Premier League corrupt as f***" in the 10th minute of the game.
As the match is taking place at 4:30pm GMT, before the UK's watershed, the report says that means it is Sky's duty to follow broadcast regulations and therefore is not them taking sides.
Therefore internal meetings have taken place to decide how to handle the situation. From those it is understood that the technique of reducing the volume of audio picked up by microphones around Goodison Park will be the most likely option, while Sky do not intend to use fake crowd noise, as was utilised during Covid-19 lockdowns.
Read the full story, here.
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Good morning!
Hello and welcome to our Everton FC liveblog this Thursday morning.
As the week continues, so do the updates on the fallout from Everton's points deduction six days ago now. An appeal being lodged is expected before the end of the week - will today be the day?
As we wait to find out, catch up on the top stories below:
