Gary Lineker has alluded to Manchester City and Chelsea being dealt a more severe punishment than Everton following the bombshell Premier League ruling.

An independent commission sent shockwaves across Merseyside when they handed the Toffees a 10-point deduction earlier today. The case between Everton and the Premier League cast a dark cloud over Goodison Park and Blues fans finally learned their fate on Friday afternoon.

Positive results in recent weeks had eased the tension and handed Everton a healthy cushion over the bottom three. However, the big news now means the Blues are now in the relegation zone - two points adrift from safety.

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Questions are being asked about how severe Manchester City’s and Chelsea’s punishments will be should either club's case progress. City face 115 separate charges while the latter are also under investigation for alleged offences dating back to the Roman Abramovich era.

As expected, the world of football reacted strongly to the news that Everton had received the biggest points deduction in Premier League history:

Gary Lineker

Former Toffees striker Lineker, while not naming either team, hinted at “other clubs” possibly being dealt a more severe penalty. He posted on social media: “With Everton being docked 10 points it will be very interesting to see if other clubs are sanctioned.”

Jamie Carragher

“The 10-point deduction for Everton is excessive and not right, considering they have been working with the PL (Premier League) about this for the last couple of years,” Liverpool legend Carragher told his followers. “Would it have been better to be evasive and try to drag it out like other clubs?

“No doubt relegated clubs will have put big pressure on the PL to deal with Everton, but when you consider six clubs tried to leave the PL and there was no sanction at all it doesn’t feel right. Until other clubs are sanctioned Everton will feel they are being used to show there is no need for an independent regulator, and they are right.”

Stan Collymore

Another former Red, Stan Collymore, suggested the Blues will receive sympathy should City and Chelsea not receive the same punishment.

“The Premier League have taken on one of the Founding Fathers of English football,” Collymore posted on X. “Everton will have a lot of sympathy in the Premier League ‘dressing room’ should other clubs not be treated as Everton have today. Popcorn time.”