Everton have been hit with a 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules, with the Toffees sinking down the table to second-bottom. 

Sean Dyche’s side have been flying of late, winning six of their last nine games in all competitions, but this latest development leaves them almost right back to square one, with just Burnley below them. 

Everton’s superior goal difference is currently keeping them above the Clarets, who continue to struggle with adapting to the Premier League after a storming season in the Championship .

After receiving the deduction, Everton released a statement of their own, which began: ‘Everton Football Club is both shocked and disappointed by the ruling of the Premier League’s Commission. 

Everton have been handed a 10-point deduction for breaching Premier League financial rules

Dyche’s side had been in impressive form, winning six of their previous nine matches in all competitions

The deduction sees them plummet down to second-bottom in the table ahead of only Burnley

‘The Club believes that the Commission has imposed a wholly disproportionate and unjust sporting sanction. 

‘The Club has already communicated its intention to appeal the decision to the Premier League. 

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‘The appeal process will now commence and the Club’s case will be heard by an Appeal Board appointed pursuant to the Premier League’s rules in due course.

‘Everton maintains that it has been open and transparent in the information it has provided to the Premier League and that it has always respected the integrity of the process. 

‘The Club does not recognise the finding that it failed to act with the utmost good faith and it does not understand this to have been an allegation made by the Premier League during the course of proceedings.

‘Both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed by the Commission are neither a fair nor a reasonable reflection of the evidence submitted. 

‘The Club will also monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases concerning the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

‘Everton cannot comment on this matter any further until the appeal process has concluded.’

The Toffees have appealed the Premier League’s ‘unjust’ decision to dock them 10 points