The time has come for Everton to knock either Chelsea or Manchester United out of the top six, according to former Toffees boss Sam Allardyce.
The Merseyside club have spent big this summer as they look to return to European football for the first time since the 2017/18 campaign and Allardyce believes the relative weakness of two of the traditional big dogs can help Marco Silva’s men sneak in.
With just four games gone in the new season, Everton sit in sixth place - above both eighth-placed Man United and 11th-placed Chelsea, who each have just one win apiece.
And Allardyce believes that the Toffees can exploit the fact both sides are trusting in young, inexperienced managers and squads and jump ahead of them in the race for the top six.
“I think Everton should break into the top six and if they’re going to break in, this is the season to do it," he told talkSPORT.
“You’ve got the difficult situation at Chelsea and I feel at Manchester United as well.
“United have gone even younger than Chelsea have with their squad this year; they’ve trimmed their squad down to the smallest number of experienced players I’ve probably ever seen.
“I think Man United might find breaking in a bit of a struggle, so will Chelsea, so that gives an opening and an opportunity for a team like Everton.
“I don’t think Wolves will do it because they’re in Europe for the first time in a long, long time and that will take a toll on the squad, as we saw with Burnley last year. It’ll be difficult for them.”
