Legend has it, that you will find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. On Saturday afternoon, with Everton producing a spirited performance against Manchester City, a rainbow formed in the sky above Goodison Park, ending in the middle of the Goodison pitch.
Although there was no direct evidence of a pot of gold, or the £125m it will reportedly cost to buy Everton Football Club, at the foot of that rainbow, the performance on show from all in Blue, if repeated from now until the end of the season, could well result in Everton securing the untold riches available for competing in the UEFA Champions League.
Now I know this time last week, everyone thought the world was imploding, as Everton’s season was at serious risk of slipping into a black hole following the embarrassing defeat at the hands of Wigan Athletic. However, fast forward 7 days, and Everton defeated the defending (if not for much longer) champions of England. A fantastic performance, which recaptured the brilliant form demonstrated in the early part of the season. Coupled with a surprise defeat for Tottenham at home to Fulham, Evertonians are once again, able to dream the impossible dream.
As things stand, Everton are 6 points behind Tottenham, with a game in hand. Everton have 9 further games to play with Tottenham a further 8. Spurs also have the added complication, of competing in the Europa League, with a Quarter Final tie against FC Basel to come.
Standing in-between Everton and Tottenham, is 5th placed Arsenal. Arsenal have been enduring a torrid time of late, but have recovered in the last week or so, with 2 well fought victories. Arsenal are 2 points ahead of Everton, both having played 29 league matches so far this season. The Gunners like Everton, do not have any cup distractions between now and the end of the season.
Below, the remaining fixtures for the three teams are listed. I will let you make up your own mind over who has the easiest run-in. But what is clear to me, are two crunch fixtures, that could make all the difference come the end of the season. Everton must travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday 7th April, a fixture which is sandwiched in-between, Spurs’ two legged affair against FC Basel. Everton must compete in that fixture without the services of the suspended duo of Fellaini and Pienaar, but Tottenham’s recent performances, following European ties, have both ended in defeat.
Everton then return to North London, on Tuesday 16th April, to take on Arsenal at the Emirates. Everton, barring injury, should be at full strength for this fixture, it what looks to be a make or break game in terms of European qualification.
It promises to be an exciting and action packed end to the season. Hope has been re-ignited and maybe, just maybe, there will be a pot of gold at the end of the Goodison rainbow.
Everton
| Everton V Stoke | Sat 30 Mar |
| Tottenham V Everton | Sat 6 Apr |
| Everton V QPR | Sat 13 Apr |
| Arsenal V Everton | Tue 16 Apr |
| Sunderland V Everton | Sat 20 Apr |
| Everton V Fulham | Sat 27 Apr |
| Liverpool V Everton | Sat 4 May |
| Everton V West Ham | Sun 12 May |
| Chelsea V Everton | Sun 19 May |
Arsenal
| Arsenal V Reading | Sat 30 Mar |
| West Brom V Arsenal | Sat 6 Apr |
| Arsenal V Norwich | Sat 13 Apr |
| Arsenal V Everton | Tue 16 Apr |
| Fulham V Arsenal | Sat 20 Apr |
| Arsenal V Man Utd | Sat 27 Apr |
| QPR V Arsenal | Sat 4 May |
| Arsenal V Wigan | Sun 12 May |
| Newcastle V Arsenal | Sun 19 May |
Tottenham Hotspur
| Swansea V Tottenham | Sat 30 Mar |
| Tottenham V Everton | Sat 6 Apr |
| Chelsea V Tottenham | Sat 13 Apr |
| Tottenham V Man City | Sat 20 Apr |
| Wigan V Tottenham | Sat 27 Apr |
| Tottenham V Southampton | Sat 4 May |
| Stoke V Tottenham | Sun 12 May |
| Tottenham V Sunderland | Sun 19 May |
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