Everton have been tipped to make the jump into the Premier League's elite this season – and finish above Chelsea.
The Blues of Merseyside haven't finished above the Blues of west London since the 1995/96 season when came sixth in Joe Royle's only full season in charge while their rivals from Stamford Bridge were 11 with Glenn Hoddle replaced by Ruud Gullit at the end of the campaign.
Inspired by Andrei Kanchelskis' 16 goals from the right wing, it was Everton's only top half finish during the first decade of the Premier League.
However, one player who was plying his trade in the English top flight back then reckons Marco Silva's side are about to break into the upper echelons at long last with transfer embargo-hit Chelsea heading for a major slump.
Carlton Palmer, who played Premier League football for Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Southampton and Coventry City as well as winning 18 England caps, told Stadium Astro : “In the top league I’ve got Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton and Arsenal.
“I don’t see Chelsea touching any of them.
“They’re in a league with Wolves, Leicester, Watford and Crystal Palace.
“So Chelsea are in that second tier.
“If the remit from the club is to develop the youth, then finishing eighth would be a great job from Frank Lampard.”
The 53-year-old added: “There’s not a cat in hell’s chance Chelsea will finish in the Champions League spots.
“I look at them and they’re well short of players. I don’t see it.”
