Everton Premier League prediction shared by Rafael Benitez

Rafael Benitez believes Everton “have the squad” to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season, with the club’s fans set to play a key role in their search for safety.

The Toffees are currently struggling in 17th place in the Premier League table, with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three.

Despite the flirtation with relegation, former Toffees boss Benitez is confident that his old club have what it takes to avoid the drop.

“After my time there they have invested a lot of money again and they have the squad to get out of relegation,” Benitez told The Telegraph.

“The fans were decisive last year and they can be again this year.”

Nervous times

Everton are among several clubs nervously awaiting the outcome of the current Premier League, with one of the closest relegation battles ever currently in motion.

The Toffees are right in the middle of that battle, and are quickly becoming one of the clubs that look like going down rather than staying up.

The pressure on the Merseyside outfit has been intensified following the 3-1 home loss to Fulham on Saturday (15 April), although those below them in the table – Nottingham Forest, Leicester and Southampton – did all lose at the weekend.

Still, the Toffees cannot rely on their rivals to continue dropping points with just seven matches remaining.

A miracle isn’t quite necessary just yet, but a hero in blue will need to step up in the coming weeks in order to save the club from the dreaded drop.

Unfortunately for Everton, however, such heroic displays have been non-existent this season. Toffees supporters can perhaps only pick out a few performances worth remembering.

The club’s fans have done their best to stick behind the team, but the players have not reciprocated that support on the pitch.