Everton face Crystal Palace next in a relegation crunch match, with plenty on the line for both clubs.
However, the clash is being dominated by a few off-pitch narratives coming from both clubs.
The hosts, naturally, are still awaiting the outcome of their ongoing appeal against November’s ten-point deduction. That verdict could have huge ramifications for the entire Premier League.
On the other hand, the visitors are currently in the midst of a managerial changeover, with Roy Hodgson’s future massively under threat.
Whether he will be in the Goodison Park dugout on Monday remains to be seen, but it does feel like they are closing in on replacing the 76-year-old with former Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner.
However, the manner in which they are going about the process is drawing criticism from Alex Crook.
What Alex Crook said about Everton vs Crystal Palace
The talkSPORT reporter, speaking live on the station earlier this morning, has lambasted the club for the way in which they have treated Hodgson throughout this process.
Although it always felt like the former Watford, Liverpool and England manager was only ever going to be a stop-gap for the club, poor recent results have seemingly forced the ownership into action.
And in their swoop for the highly-rated Austrian, it could provide the club with a keen boost ahead of their Goodison Park showdown.
Regardless of whether it does lift them though, Crook remains unhappy with the way things have been done, noting: ‘I think it is a very unsavoury situation if Hodgson even has to front up to the media today and answer questions when everyone in the room knows his time at Palace is coming to an end.
‘If he does have to board the coach to Everton on Monday for what is a massive game it has to be said, is quite frankly a ridiculous situation.’
A new manager bounce for Everton’s relegation rival?
A new manager bounce right before their clash would be a killer blow for Sean Dyche and his men, but it cannot be overlooked just how poor Palace have been, and what an almighty task it will be to turn them around.
Especially given the injuries they have suffered, with three key men still set to be absent on Monday.
Glasner, or Hodgson, will know all too well how difficult this Monday night trip promises to be, but should it be the former, there are fears that it could invigorate their squad in the way that the appointment of a new boss can often do.
Should they miraculously win on Merseyside, with the 49-year-old in charge or not, it would further condemn Everton to a relegation scrap whilst pulling the Eagles well clear of the drop zone.
Victory for the hosts is a must to ensure that they move out of the bottom three whilst also pulling another side into the mess.
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