Burnley will have a difficult task at hand when they visit Merseyside to face Everton this week. The Toffees have won both their league fixtures against Burnley previously and would be aiming for an easy win.
Team News
Everton- Ronald Koeman is having no fresh injuries from last week’s hard-fought comeback win against defending champions, Leicester City. The four players, who remain out of the picture are those with long-term injuries.
Winger Yannick Bolasie is out for the longest. His return date is scheduled early January 2018 as he recovers from his cruciate ligament injury. After trying the young Ademola Lookman and Enner Valencia, Koeman has settled with Ross Barkley in that role now. Seamus Coleman is scheduled to return in August with Mason Holgate replacing him at the moment.
Ramiro Funes Mori is out for the season too with his meniscus injury with Phil Jagielka getting his place back and he has been a pleasant surprise of late. Central midfielder James McCarthy is out with a mild hamstring and should return soon.
Burnley- A huge injury boost for Sean Dyche would be the return of midfielder Steven Defour into training from his thigh injury. Jeff Hendrick and Joey Barton haven’t been bad of late but Defour’s experience would surely be helpful. No other new concerns for the English manager apart from Dean Marney’s long-term injury.
Predicted Line-ups
Everton
Robles; Baines, Jagielka, Williams, Holgate; Schneiderlin; Mirallas, Gueye, Davies, Barkley; Lukaku
Burnley
Heaton; Ward, Mee, Keane, Lowtown; Brady, Hendrick, Barton, Boyd; Gray, Barnes
Key Players
Everton- The biggest weapon for the Toffees this season is undoubtedly Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian international sits at the top of Premier League top scorer list this season, netting 23 goals already in 31 appearances. The towering forward will have the huge task of breaking the stubborn Burnley defence. Apart from him, contract rebel Ross Barkley will be another key player to watch out for.
The English attacking midfielder has been one of the most effective players in Koeman’s squad this season being involved in most significant moves. He has managed eight assists so far, scoring four goals.
Burnley- Given Burnley’s fruitless result away from home, Dyche is hardly expecting a win against an in-form Everton side. And he will hugely bank on Andre Gray to take the small chances they create at the other end. The 26-year-old has managed eight goals already.
Robbie Brady will surely be the one, who could be the difference between both the teams. The Irishman is lethal from set-pieces and could be Burnley’s only weapon in this fixture.
Betting Odds
Everton @ 1.44
Draw @ 4.75
Burnley @ 8.00
