With the recent news about Manchester City being barred from European competition for two years, it opens up the possibility that seemed unimaginable earlier in the 2019/20 campaign as Everton has a chance to play for one of the most prestigious soccer tournaments in the world, the Champions League. Yes, Europa League is within reach too, but there is something special about playing in the Champions League against the likes of the best clubs in the sport in Europe like FC Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid.
Everton currently sits 11th on the table with 36 points, which doesn't seem likely, but actually, the club is only five points off a Champions League spot. With how the team has played since Carlo Ancelotti has taken over the reigns, this is a very realistic possibility. While they certainly can very well get an Europa League spot, the goal should be Champions League.
Manchester City is currently in second place in the league, but with them being ineligible for European competition, the fifth spot would earn a spot in Champions league, which Everton sits five points off of (Manchester United currently sits in fifth with 41 points). While it's still theoretically possible for Manchester City to completely collapse and finish in fifth, with the type of team they have and having already earned 57 points that seems very unlikely and hard for them to do. That's why fifth should be the goal for the Toffees.
Let's take a look at the remaining schedule for Everton for the rest of the 2019/20 campaign and take a look at their chances:
March 1: Vs. Manchester United
March 8: At Chelsea
March 16: Vs Liverpool
March 21: At Norwich City
April 6: Vs Leicester City
April 11: At Tottenham Spurs
April 18: Vs Southampton
April 25: At Wolverhampton Wolves
May 2: Vs Aston Villa
May 9: At Sheffield United
May 17: Vs Bournemouth
That is not an easy schedule, especially with the first three matches, but they also will be absolutely vital, especially with Manchester United and Chelsea as they both hold the last two Champions League spots. That being said, the matches against Leicester City and Tottenham Spurs will be difficult too making it five of six matches where Everton has to face teams in the top six. The games against Norwich City, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth are must wins as they are clubs who are fighting to stay alive in the Premier League and not getting nine points out of those matchups would be utter failure. Southampton, Sheffield United, and Wolverhampton Wolves are in the same position as Everton as they are fighting for a spot in a European competition, so those will be important matches as well. However, with how difficult of a schedule as it is, Everton has been one of the best Premier League teams of late and they could very well earn a spot in the 2020-21 Champions League tournament. Manchester City will make an appeal, so if they win, Everton will have to gun after Chelsea for the fourth spot, which they are eight points behind. However, with how it is right now, five points is the deficit and that's an easier mountain to climb.
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