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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor O'Neill

Leicester players will envy what Everton have as crucial bond is rekindled at perfect time

It has been 13 months since Everton’s fans did what they always do in the club’s moments of greatest jeopardy.

Organise and then mobilise to use the force of their support to drag the team out of the jaws of relegation. They made sure they did all they could to drag their side over the line.

A 3-2 comeback victory over Crystal Palace helped preserve the club’s Premier League status. But history is repeating itself.

READ MORE: Everton truth already brutally clear even if destiny remains in their own hands

READ MORE: Sean Dyche shares Dwight McNeil delight after taking on new Everton role against Man City

Everton are 17th in the table and one point above the relegation zone. With just two games left to play, the Blues still face the prospect of playing in the Sky Bet Championship next season.

But that won’t be happening if the club’s long-suffering supporters have anything to do with it. They are prepared to do all they can to ensure top-flight football remains at Goodison Park.

Ahead of the recent game against Newcastle United, supporters, just like they did last year, lined up on Goodison Road and the surrounding streets more than two hours before kick-off to welcome their side.

And although no such welcome took place ahead of Sunday’s game against Manchester City, Goodison was still rocking come kick-off. But unfortunately, Sean Dyche’s side were outclassed as they fell to their 10th home league defeat of the season, an ignominious club record.

However, that didn’t stop supporters from giving Dyche’s side a rousing reception after the final whistle. As well as applause, fans inside Goodison Park sang, 'We love you Everton'.

It is fair to say that supporters not only recognised the gulf in quality between the two sides but also the importance of Saturday’s trip to Wolves in the club’s battle to avoid the drop.

"To have the fans having our back after a disappointing result shows how much the fans care and want us to do well," Alex Iwobi said when asked about the reception his side received.

"We use that as motivation to go into the next game. If they can fight for us, it is only right that we can fight for them as well."

Fast forward a little over 24 hours, and the scene and atmosphere at the King Power could not have been any different.

As Leicester City’s players made their way off the pitch following their harrowing 3-0 defeat to Liverpool, they did so to a chorus of boos from those fans who had remained until the end.

But this wasn’t the first time boos had been heard around the King Power; no sooner had Liverpool raced into a 2-0 lead with a quick-fire brace from Curtis Jones, Leicester supporters started to make their feelings known after Cody Gakpo missed a chance to make it 3-0 before the interval.

The Foxes sit just two points behind Dyche’s side in the table, but while there is genuine hope that Everton can beat the drop, the feeling around the Midlands club couldn’t be any different.

There appears to be a feeling that Leicester’s fate has already been sealed and the club will be playing its football in the Championship next season. That is not the case when it comes to Everton.

Of course, it hasn’t always been this way. You haven’t had to look hard for signs of mutiny at Goodison Park this season. Slow and steady deterioration has taken its toll.

Following the toxic end to the defeat to Brighton at the start of the year, Blues supporters then booed their side off against Southampton before they staged a sit-in protest after the 2-1 defeat.

There have been protest marches before games and even shouts of 'You're not fit to wear the shirt'. But Blues supporters have been right to make their voices heard.

However, now they are prepared to park their grievances and do all they can to inspire their side across the line. Hope has not been completely lost amongst fans, helped by the recent 5-1 away win against Brighton at the Amex.

So while Sunday may have been a tough afternoon for all concerned, the bond between fans and players at the full-time whistle was a sight to behold.

A united club was saved from relegation thanks to fans and players working in harmony - and now history could be about to repeat itself.

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