Vast swathes of diehard Evertonians were keen to express their displeasure after the Toffees announced a number of changes to fixture scheduling in order to accommodate a new broadcast schedule.
Everton have confirmed that all six Premier League fixtures in December – starting with next Saturday’s visit to Burnley – have been changed to accommodate the demands of live television coverage.
In a consolation to Evertonians, Liverpool’s Tier 2 lockdown status means that up to 2,000 fans could return to Goodison Park during the festive month. Regardless, Everton fans will be able to watch every December fixture in a live broadcast in some capacity.
However, there is a sense of this news serving as a double-edged sword. Everton face Burnley and then Chelsea a week apart, but there will be a midweek round of games halfway through the month just four days after the Blues face Frank Lampard’s in-form side.
That match is at Leicester City on Wednesday 16 December, offering just two days’ respite before facing Arsenal on Saturday 19th.
This could make for tired legs, flagging performances and mounting injuries – beliefs shared by many disgruntled fans upon hearing of the updated schedule…
Twitter: Four games in nine days and two in 48 hours. Shambles. https://t.co/U3wUjJs4BE (@CallumChadwick_)
Twitter: Some moody times there https://t.co/39NS4osrPb (@jackph21)
Some fans were mildly concerned that the unsociable kick-off Boxing Day time of 8pm for the trip to Sheffield United would clash with post-Christmas indulgences…
Twitter: Eurgh why is the Everton game on at 8pm on Boxing Day, I’ll be in a food and drink coma by then #Efc (@chrismuzi87)
Twitter: 8pm on boxing day
https://t.co/YkoxwgvXZC (@furlong_93)
Twitter: 8pm on boxing day hahahah https://t.co/wu1Ngu0g9H (@lewissefc)
And finally, a general sense of dread perhaps best encapsulates some of the sentiment…
Twitter: Really dreading December https://t.co/vnsMmlSY8g (@ahmedefc98)
