It has been an uphill battle to the top for Everton, and it did not help that they were deducted 10 points early in the season for breaking the profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
The ten points was the largest so far in Premier League history.
The Merseyside club received some mercy from the league authorities after their appeal won them four points in the table.
Everton appealed the punishment shortly after the verdict was released in November, saying it was disproportionate and unjust.
"Everton FC appealed the sanction imposed against it on nine grounds, each of which related to the sanction rather than the fact of the breach, which the club admitted," the Premier League said about the reinstatement of four points.
"Two of those nine grounds were upheld by the appeal board, which has substituted the original points deduction of 10 for six."
Ever received four points in the Premier League table, allowing them to climb to the 15th spot for a new total of 25 points.
The deduction also improved the odds of them going to the Championship, which is now set at 10/1 from 7/2.
Manager Sean Dyche laments 10-point deduction's psychological effect
A few days before the Premier League decision, Everton manager Sean Dyche spoke about how the blow affected his player's mentality.
The Toffees, who finished the 2022-2023 season in 17th place, just two points above relegation, have been winless in their last six games.
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Dyche opined that the PSR punishment gets to his players, too.
"It changes the perception, it changes the feel, it changes the fan base, it changes the feel of performances," he said.
"That's just a fact. We all measure it differently when the team are there, top, middle or bottom."
"Does that affect the team whilst the process is going? At first everyone says obviously not because you win four, but you could argue there is a delayed effect."
Battle against relegation
Luton Town are in the 18th place in the current Premier League table with one game behind.
Everton fans can now have a sigh of relief after the decision. The last time they were relegated to the second division was in the 1950-1951 season. It took them two seasons to return to the top-flight league.
Since then, they were considered the league's Big Six along with Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur.
They can hardly be tagged as among the Big Six now, but that can wait.
Their biggest task is to keep themselves in the Premier League. With 25 points, they are not yet safe.
Their remaining schedule is one of the toughest. They will face West Ham United, Manchester United, Merseyside rivals Liverpool, Bournemouth, and Newcastle United in their next five games.
If they can squeeze nothing from these games, they should be better prepared in the season's last month.
Important games for them will arrive in the last five weeks, wherein they will meet Burnley on April 5, Nottingham Forest on April 19, Brentford on April 26, and Luton on the last game week.
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