'Shocked' - Everton boss Sean Dyche reveals how he and Toffees squad reacted to 10-point deduction as Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag admits concern over facing 'very mad' opposition

The Toffees received the punishment after being found to have breached Profit and Sustainability Rules. The deduction leaves them in the relegation zone on four points heading into Sunday's meeting with Manchester United at Goodison Park.

“Like everyone, well everyone in these parts, we’re shocked. With the wave of noise after that, it seems as though most people in football are shocked… the enormity of it, disproportionate is a word that’s been used by the club," Dyche said.

Despite the bad news, Dyche insisted that his team's task has not shifted as a result. He added: "Obviously we’re going to feel a bit aggrieved by that. On the other hand it doesn’t change the focus. The focus since I got here has been sorting things out on the pitch. Getting the team to win, getting the team to feel different, the performances to be different and we were obviously on the right lines for that and delivering strong performances, I felt, and this has just given us a push backwards to then come forwards again. The job hasn’t changed for me. It’s just made it more difficult in the current circumstances until the appeal of course."

Last week's bombshell points deduction news came as a shock, not only to the Toffees but rival clubs and supporters as well. The decision led to a Premier League shareholders meeting to discuss the verdict, while potential punishments for other sides may well have been on the agenda. Indeed, Manchester City have previously been charged for 115 alleged breaches of FFP regulations and, following the strict action taken against Everton, they may well be worried about what could be to follow for them.

The 10-point deduction handed out to Everton is the largest punishment of its kind in Premier League history. The club are currently in the process of appealing the decision, though whether they will be successful remains to be seen.

A siege mentality is anticipated at Goodison Park in the wake of the sanction, with Everton fans expected to air their grievances loudly during the match. And Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted that his side must be wary of the wounded Toffees on Sunday.

He said: "It's always about us. I can see the opposition, I can see they are mad. Finally, it's about us. If they are mad, that's their fuel, we have to match those standards. If we match the standards we have a very good chance to win the game. I don't know the details about [the points deduction], I don't have an opinion. I can imagine Everton fans are very mad. We can do nothing about it. We have to match their standards."