Everton could be hit by further punishment as accounts for 2023 being reviewed

Problems never seem to end for Everton with this news meaning the club could be starting 2024 with yet more setbacks after the truly horrendous twelve months just gone.

Last year's stunningly harsh points penalty - the biggest in English football history - knocked the Toffees back into the relegation zone after they had worked so hard to climb out of it in the first place.

At first the Blues responded well and after defeat to Manchester United in their first match after the penalty was imposed, went on a run of four games without defeat.

However, since then has come three consecutive losses to Tottenham, Manchester City and then Wolves in their last match of 2023. This left the team in 17th place only just above the drop zone.

The feastive period put Sean Dyche's small squad under severe pressure and with several key injuries undermining their momentum, eventually the team started to run out of steam as the year drew to a close.

And the prospect of another penalty, especially perhaps yet more points being deducted, is a truly disturbing one and would leave Everton in very serious, possibly even terminal trouble.

If the football authorities do recommend yet another points penalty and were it to be applied this season, I really can't see the Blues recovering from that.

Even just another three points taken off them this season would prove extremely difficult to overcome, although that seems improbable as presumably the penalty would be applied next season. Then again, who knows?

As it is Dyche has confirmed that the club will be doing very little if any business in the January transfer window, which just underlines what Kevin Thelwell has been saying for some time now.

The combination of points penalties, poor form on the pitch without much prospect of further reinforcements coming through the doors and continuing confusion over the club's future ownership, makes for a very challenging start to 2024.

Well, at least the club are taking a break from the Premier League this week with an FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace tomorrow.