Everton manager Sean Dyche has warned his players against assuming they are safe from relegation after Wednesday night’s 2-0 win over Liverpool.
Goals from Jarrard Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were enough to seal Everton’s first Merseyside derby win at Goodison Park for 14 years.
The win takes Dyche’s side eight points clear of the relegation zone with four games remaining in the season.
Asked whether the all-but win guarantees Everton’s safety, Dyche said: “That’s the challenge. It’s why I nipped it in the bud last night. We have to go and do it again. I praised the players and then said ‘right, let’s go and perform again’.
“There certainly shouldn’t be (a feeling of safety). We’ve taken big steps but there’s more to come. We can control the situation ourselves, even with the points deductions, which we’ve always aimed to do.”
The Toffees are edging clear of the drop zone despite twice being docked points for separate breaches of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
Everton’s appeal against their most recent two-point deduction will be heard next month and Dyche says he is “proud” of how his players have remained focused on the quest of survival.
“We’re sticking to the task, whatever comes at us. I’m certainly proud of that because we’ve had some ups and downs ourselves,” he said.
“The challenge has been from the outside with the points (deductions). I don’t think that’s helpful and I’m sure most people agree with that.”
Everton is next in action against Brentford on Saturday.
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