Abdoulaye Doucoure has accepted that unless Everton find a way to score goals in their remaining Premier League games, they will be playing in the Championship next season.
Sean Dyche’s side stretched their winless run to six games after capitulating against Newcastle United on Thursday night. The defeat leaves the Blues in 19th place with just five matches of the season remaining.
One of Everton’s biggest problems so far this season has been scoring goals. The Blues have only managed to score 25 times in the Premier League.
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To put that into context, only Southampton have scored less in the top-flight as things stand. And Doucoure accepts that unless his side start to score, they face playing in the second-tier of English football next season.
He said: "We know we need other players to score goals. When you concede that amount of goals, you need to score more than one to come back in order to win a game.
"It is very important to do that in the Premier League. [Thursday night] was very difficult, but you have to find it somewhere to stay in the league."
Everton take on Leicester City at the King Power on Monday evening before games against Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Bournemouth. Last season, the Blues stayed up by the skin of their teeth, coming from behind to beat Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in their penultimate game of the campaign.
And when asked if it is now important that his side head into their final game of the season with a chance of staying up, Doucoure replied: "Maybe this season is going to be the game where we can be safe.
"Every game will be important, and Monday we will have to be on it."
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