Everton are facing up to what could be one of the most crucial weeks in their history, both on and off the field.
On Monday, Crystal Palace come to Goodison Park for a relegation six pointer - a win will take the Blues within two points of Palace. Conversely, anything less will ensure the Eagles maintain or extend their valuable points advantage.
The situation at Selhurst Park has become more worrying after the terrible news of Roy Hodgson becoming ill prior to his pre-match news conference for the Everton trip. Everyone in football sends their best wishes to one of the good guys for a speedy recovery.
However, for Palace chairman and co-owner Steve Parish it is difficult to navigate, with reports suggesting former Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner was on the verge of being appointed as Hodgson’s successor.
Meanwhile, Everton’s recent run is not particularly eye-catching. Their last Premier League win was away at Burnley two months ago.
But the bare statistics are worthy of more investigation.
Within that run they have given a reasonable account of themselves against Manchester City - twice. They have played Tottenham home and away and come away with a solitary point, when four should have been their minimum return.
Aston Villa at home was forgettable but yielded a valuable point as did the 0-0 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Quite how Everton failed to win that match is one of life's great mysteries.
The one consistent factor in those matches is the lack of cutting edge. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is playing a valuable role, but is enduring the worst goalscoring drought of his career.
Everton have to discover a way of getting more goals and finding ways to win as they did during that December purple patch.
Monday could prove to be pivotal but two matters away from Goodison Park are more significant.
Everton are expecting to find out the result of their appeal against the 10-point deduction. Despite the fact various football finance experts have spoken about their confidence that there is likely to be some reduction in their points penalty. Everton fans will believe that when they see it and not before.
A decision concerning the Premier League’s approval of the takeover by 777 Partners is also believed to be imminent. The group have already lent Everton a sizeable sum of money, thought to be in the region of £150 million, just to cover the day-to-day costs.
If 777 Partners fail to pass the Premier League’s owners test, then Everton will find themselves between a rock and a hard place.
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