Exclusive: Ex-Toffees Forward Yakubu Plays Down Everton Relegation Talk

FIFA legend Yakubu Ayegbeni remains confident that Everton will avoid relegation despite their poor start to the Premier League season.

The Toffees have had a disappointing start to the 2024-25 campaign, losing all four of their matches, including a recent 3-2 away defeat to Aston Villa. 

They have conceded 13 goals so far, leaving them at the bottom of the English topflight log.

Amid the club's fragile financial situation, many have predicted relegation for Everton. 

However, the ‘Yak’ who represented Everton between 2007 to 2011, remains confident that his former team will bounce back and reverse their fortunes.

“We are not sinking; we are just struggling. We are in a tight position now, we have played three matches and have all lost all, but I think they will bounce back,” Yakubu told SportsBoom.com. 

“The [2024-25 Premier League] season is still young and once they get the first win, they will be fine.”

“The problem is we are not scoring goals and that is the thing. We need to score goals and we need to win games because it is going to be very difficult in December.”

‘The Yak’ feels sorry for under pressure Dyche

On January 30, 2023, Englishman Sean Dyche was named Everton's manager, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract to replace Frank Lampard.

Despite a strong start, highlighted by a stunning 1-0 win over league leaders Arsenal, results under 53-year-old Sean Dyche have been mixed. 

Nevertheless, he successfully prevented the Toffees from being relegated, even as the team overcame a six-point deduction for breaching Fair Play Regulations (FFP).

As Dyche faces increasing pressure and rumors swirl about David Moyes making a surprising return to Everton, Ayegbeni has expressed sympathy for the former Burnley boss, noting that managers often end up bearing the brunt of poor results.

“When the goals are not scoring, there is pressure on the strikers. It is the same with the manager, when they are not winning, the pressure is on them,” he continued.

“When you think about football now, it’s quite different because there is a whole lot of pressure on managers as they don’t get enough time like they use to get before.”

“Hopefully, we can score goals and can win games, so that the pressure will be less on the manager.”