Royal Blue Mersey - Everton at Burnley: Premier League Matchday 19It's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2018-12-28T07:00:05+00:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/179217992018-12-28T07:00:05+00:002018-12-28T07:00:05+00:00Under-fire Coleman hails Blues reaction in Burnley win
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<figcaption>Coleman in Everton’s 5-1 win over Burnley on Boxing Day | Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Everton right-back felt he and his team-mates proved doubters wrong with victory over Clarets</p> <p id="mz3U4i"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> right-back <span>Seamus Coleman</span> hailed the emphatic response in the Boxing Day win over <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> to being embarrassed by <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>.</p>
<p id="jBL1zz">Spurs outplayed the Blues on Sunday and left Goodison as 6-2 winners, but Coleman and co. responded superbly to record a 5-1 away victory at the Clarets in their next game.</p>
<p id="hl8lZv">Speaking to Press Association Sport, Coleman said: </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="ZCekwF">“We wanted to bounce back after that very disappointing defeat to Tottenham. We knew it was going to be tough because they [Burnley] cause a lot of problems for teams with their style of play.</p>
<p id="s6ioUU">“Our three centre-halves dealt with it brilliantly throughout the game, then we had that little bit of talent in the forward positions to cause them trouble so we’re very happy with the win.”</p>
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<p id="kXOGiy">It has been a particularly difficult season so far for Coleman, who has received a fair amount of criticism for his performances down the right flank.</p>
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BRA9mYqG6n3hV8Z49BMLYiOIu_s=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13648243/1074685538.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Coleman had a difficult afternoon against Spurs on Sunday</figcaption>
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<p id="wI46e2">But the 30-year-old spoke of how Blues boss Marco Silva has continued to encourage him and his team-mates constantly, despite his personal lack of form and a run which saw Everton go five games without a win, adding:</p>
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<p id="dPgtMv">“The confidence was there. The manager keeps telling us to believe in ourselves, to keep playing with a smile on our faces. At times we did that.</p>
<p id="4zBf1Y">“I thought there were periods in the game where we were very good, periods where we weren’t so good but it’s a work in progress and we want to keep getting better throughout the season.”</p>
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<aside id="5iFbMM"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"What positions do Everton need in the January transfer window?","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/27/18150143/everton-transfer-rumors-news-needs-positions-marco-silva-marcel-brands-striker-tosun-coleman"},{"title":"Tactical Analysis: Everton at Burnley","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/27/18157503/everton-tactical-analysis-burnley-marco-silva-back-three-gylfi-sigurdsson-andre-gomes-idrissa-gueye"}]}'></div></aside><p id="owlLuK">On the other side of the pitch, left-winger Bernard was outstanding at Turf Moor, managing two assists as the Brazilian caused havoc throughout the game.</p>
<p id="n1Gsxq">The diminutive wide man, signed by Silva on transfer deadline day in the summer, was singled out by Coleman for specific praise after one of his best individual showings in his early Everton career:</p>
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<p id="qoJ9r8">“If you watch training, he causes our defenders problems every day. He’s a very talented, very special player and we’re very happy to have him at the club. He’ll only get better throughout the season as well.</p>
<p id="4neSXL">“I’ve played with some quality players here in the past but this group, taking it on its own, there’s some very good players and some very talented players, and very good people, which is important if you want to be successful.</p>
<p id="mWfM6I">“The lads in the team that we’ve signed have been great characters so let’s just see how the season goes and try to finish as high as we can.”</p>
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<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r7-BP7BCITfCQhdMdgvry5kGuQs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13652175/1074988350.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Bernard was devastating for Everton at Burnley</figcaption>
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<p id="U8bGKI">With a seemingly kinder run of fixtures next up for Everton, starting with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, Coleman sees this period of the season as crucial, and believes the Toffees must now build on their Boxing Day success:</p>
<blockquote><p id="cLH4iA">“We had a little run earlier in the season against teams below us in the league where we went on to win some games but it’s an old cliche, and it’s true, there are no easy games and you’ve got to take each game as it is and be prepared because every team causes their own problems.”</p></blockquote>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/28/18157588/under-fire-seamus-coleman-hails-blues-reaction-in-burnley-win-everton-bernard-marco-silva-commentsmatthew.chandler2018-12-27T19:00:07+00:002018-12-27T19:00:07+00:00Tactical Analysis: Everton at Burnley
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<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RWNwiKysUsH-eqt-m4QsS_hHAoI=/0x0:4362x2908/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62743341/1074990180.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The 5-1 victory calmed some frayed nerves, but the Toffees aren’t any better equipped for success moving forward</p> <p id="mJCwpV">Boxing Day was fun.</p>
<p id="VGGoZS">Three goals in the opening 25 minutes took all the pressure out of the match, allowing <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> supporters to sit back and enjoy an utterly ruthless and clinical performance from a team that has at times looked gun-shy in front of goal.</p>
<p id="S7HIPh">And the players deserve a lot of credit for their finishing prowess in this match. Yerry Mina took his early chance with ease, something we’ve seen Michael Keane and Kurt Zouma fail to do regularly this season. Lucas Digne’s free-kick goal was sublime, surpassed only perhaps by his open-play goal that well and truly put the match to bed.</p>
<p id="g2d4mF">Gylfi Sigurdsson managed to exorcise his penalty demons, at least for now, an encouraging sign for Everton going forward. And at the death, Richarlison reminded us that he’s been a consistently good finisher this season (as long as you choose to forget what happened at <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a>).</p>
<p id="CzUd6K">So, credit to the goalscorers (and those who set them up), and thank God for what was the first entertaining match for Everton supporters in nearly two months.</p>
<p id="GpQDlJ">With all that said, <strong>Everton didn’t play particularly well</strong>. Or, perhaps more accurately, Everton didn’t play particularly well in the defensive and middle thirds. Once the Toffees got the ball into the attacking third, they created relatively solid chances and took most of them with aplomb. And yet...</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">xG map for Burnley - Everton<br><br>oh man it happened to burnley <a href="https://t.co/oHT5VB4gdO">pic.twitter.com/oHT5VB4gdO</a></p>— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Caley_graphics/status/1077975840883965954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2018</a>
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<p id="p6stgs">Conceding 1.4 xG to <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a>, a team whose season xG was an underwhelming 15.11 through its first 18 league matches, is decidedly <strong>not great.</strong></p>
<p id="MPnAJi">We’ve already discussed what Everton did well — clinical finishing. So, what did Everton fail to do against a relatively talentless Burnley side?</p>
<p id="OpUgRt">To start, it didn’t have Idrissa Gueye (again), so Marco Silva elected to return to a back three.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | Here it is, Blues... <br><br>You starting XI for today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EFCawayday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EFCawayday</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/BurnleyOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BurnleyOfficial</a>! <a href="https://t.co/gl0v1CNgCu">pic.twitter.com/gl0v1CNgCu</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/1077927476628807682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2018</a>
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<p id="HzBwdS">The decision to move to a 3-4-3, by itself, was pretty sensible. After Tom Davies got shredded in the midfield against <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>, I had no real desire to relive the experience again.</p>
<p id="d9AZh2">Playing this way freed Bernard and <span>Theo Walcott</span> from most defensive responsibility, and both players had one of their best matches of the season — allowed to fluidly interchange up top with Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Take a look at the passmap for the front three.</p>
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<p id="ddXj9b">It’s solid work in relatively limited touches, and Silva will be happy to have both wingers feeling good about themselves after some recent struggles.</p>
<p id="gXxahS">But the number of touches they had <strong>was limited</strong>, and that brings us to the middle and defensive third troubles.</p>
<p id="DB0Bki">Let’s start with the basics — the wing-backs sat <em>incredibly</em> high up the pitch. When the lineups were announced, I anticipated the setup would have more of a back-five look, as it did against Manchester City. But, if you take a look at the average position map from the match, you can see very clearly that was a bad assumption.</p>
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<p id="c6yEzq">In fact, <span>Seamus Coleman</span> and Lucas Digne’s average position was more advanced than Andre Gomes’ — creating a true 3-4-3 look.</p>
<p id="HH1frq">Once the ball made its way upfield, Coleman and Digne got very involved in the attack — creating mismatches out wide that helped to contribute to scoring chances. But, with the full-backs sitting so high, progressing the ball through the midfield became an enormous chore.</p>
<p id="URYaBj">The result was a pretty disastrous day for the center-backs in terms of distribution. Take a look at the combined passmaps of Yerry Mina, Kurt Zouma, and Michael Keane.</p>
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<p id="4fSTDY">Most of these passes either went from center-back to center-back, or were launched forward (somewhat hopefully) toward the full-backs or wingers. For a group that’s been pretty consistent in distribution this season, this failure rate is a stark departure that speaks pretty clearly to the weaknesses of the system Silva played.</p>
<p id="E9CXQb">This is even more clearly displayed when you looked at the passes received by Everton’s central midfielders in this match — Gylfi Sigurdsson and Andre Gomes. Their passes received maps, courtesy of Statszone, are displayed here.</p>
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<p id="bNcWWq">Without a third man in the midfield, Sigurdsson (left) and Gomes (right) just couldn’t open up passing lanes to receive the ball. Combined, the pair was the recipient of only 13% of Everton’s passes — a major contributor to the team’s overall inability to get from back to front with any regularity.</p>
<p id="70JRfc">Overall, these factors combined to create one of the most unique heatmaps you’ll see from an Everton team this season.</p>
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<p id="2XnC2K">Almost all of Everton’s possession came in the middle and defensive thirds. Yet, the possession that the Toffees did have in the attacking third came almost exclusively in dangerous areas — a weird outcome that feels like it should be contradictory.</p>
<p id="JoQeVz">The result was what we saw on Wednesday — corners won, a penalty drawn, and fouls suffered around the box — all of which led to goals during Everton’s relatively rare spells of possession in the attacking third.</p>
<p id="hoRK9K">I’m still not entirely sure if Silva felt that given his opposition, he’d be best served playing a style that looked to overwhelm Burnley defenders with raw attacking numbers, even if it left him defensive exposed, or if what broke out on Boxing Day was more like a series of happy coincidences and quality moments overshadowing an otherwise average performance against a poor team.</p>
<p id="FAiRt6">Either way, a team with more talent would likely be able to take better advantage of Everton’s middling transition game, not to mention perhaps finishing off one or two of the chances Burnley wasted during this match. </p>
<p id="lCuUnb">Wednesday’s win was a lot of fun, and a delightful way to end the run of poor results earned by Everton. But, don’t expect Silva to look to the 3-4-3 to solve lingering issues at Goodison Park — and don’t expect this setup to work again if Silva naively returns to it.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/27/18157503/everton-tactical-analysis-burnley-marco-silva-back-three-gylfi-sigurdsson-andre-gomes-idrissa-gueyeAdam.Braun2018-12-27T08:00:04+00:002018-12-27T08:00:04+00:00Everton 5-1 Burnley: Three Thoughts | Silva’s gamble, Digne delivers, Blues character
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<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NbxNRI3Clvi-nPzb_CsMbGAH9ic=/0x0:3207x2138/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62740965/1074990196.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Blues respond perfectly to Sunday’s Spurs drubbing</p> <p id="Fso5iv"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> ended a run of five games without a league win with a 5-1 thrashing of <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a>.</p>
<p id="P64HFx">The Blues, who were comprehensively outplayed in a 6-2 home defeat to <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> on Sunday, showed no signs of a lack of confidence as they easily swept aside the Clarets, finding themselves 3-0 up inside the first quarter of the game. </p>
<p id="rNTjFJ">Here’s three points from Turf Moor to mull over for the rest of Boxing Day:</p>
<h1 id="H3ApMS"><strong>Silva’s tactical gamble pays off</strong></h1>
<p id="2HApyK">After Blues boss Marco Silva opted for a back three for the first time this season in the 3-1 defeat at <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> 11 days ago, it was probably not a surprise to see him revert to his trusted 4-2-3-1 against Spurs.</p>
<p id="Go7cL0">But Yerry Mina, Kurt Zouma and Michael Keane were all starters again today, and looked far more at ease than away at the champions, with the towering Colombian getting his first Everton goal with an unstoppable header.</p>
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<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qeL8dRoB8vjmV3MBN-fyXq7WQHE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13650565/1074987688.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Mina was excellent against Burnley</figcaption>
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<p id="oL2y1Z">Of course, there is a sizeable gulf in quality between City and Burnley, but all three defenders looked composed and assured, winning every header that came their way and rarely appearing troubled, albeit against a poor Clarets side struggling to fend off relegation.</p>
<p id="x8P5Gw">The best way to nullify teams as physical as Burnley is simply to keep possession and frustrate, and Everton executed Silva’s game plan wonderfully with an extremely professional performance.</p>
<aside id="DYA6HD"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Marco Silva: “This is for our fans and our players” after Everton’s drubbing of Burnley","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156591/everton-burnley-5-1-recap-reaction-marco-silva-post-match-comments-lucas-digne-premier-league"},{"title":"Everton at Burnley: Player Grades Poll","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156521/everton-burnley-5-1-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratings"}]}'></div></aside><h1 id="ercvcL"><strong>Digne delivers</strong></h1>
<p id="ouVo5W">Another bonus of Silva’s three-man backline was that it allowed full-backs <span>Seamus Coleman</span> and Lucas Digne to bomb on even more than usual, with the added protection of an extra central defender should they be caught out.</p>
<p id="J2z9jX">It brought the best out of Digne, with the Frenchman scoring another superb free-kick in the first half before getting his second with a long-range drive on 71 minutes.</p>
<p id="CoLPVu">With every passing week, the looks an even more astute summer signing from Silva and director of football Marcel Brands, and the former Barcelona man has taken on the mantle from club legend <span>Leighton Baines</span> perfectly. His £20 million fee has already repaid itself.</p>
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<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/brZ2MphWSdf0I7RFapiaZkyVob4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13650571/1074990180.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Digne hit a brace at Turf Moor</figcaption>
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<h1 id="aTjGER"><strong>Emphatic win highlights strength of character</strong></h1>
<p id="emW739">The heartbreaking fashion in which Everton let a deserved draw slip away at Anfield three-and-a-half weeks ago seemed to have left the Blues traumatised on the pitch ever since, with the Spurs hammering the nadir of their barren run.</p>
<p id="E7ajlr">Everton looked supine and devoid of resilience against Spurs, but proved their mental toughness by responding in such devastating fashion at Turf Moor.</p>
<aside id="l1fM6R"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Digne is perfect for Everton’s Christmas","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156605/everton-5-1-burnley-recap-reaction-lucas-digne-goal-free-kick-shot-family-fans-christmas"},{"title":"Everton 5-1 Burnley: Beatdown","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156402/everton-burnley-recap-results-reaction-goals-highlights-yerry-mina-lucas-digne-gylfi-sigurdsson"}]}'></div></aside><p id="ZXptQx">There will be stiffer tests ahead for the Toffees, but recent weeks rendered today’s game a ‘must-win’, and Silva’s men rose to the occasion. To survive a particularly sticky spell after the Clarets had reduced the arrears before half-time was especially commendable; now they must back this result up on the South Coast this weekend.</p>
<p id="L0yofT">Today’s win goes down as Everton’s biggest league away win since a 5-1 triumph at Sheffield Wednesday in September 1985, and is the first step on the road to recovery after a difficult December.</p>
<p id="JpBeJr">With an arguably easier set of fixtures around the corner, now is the time for the Blues to kick on and reignite their campaign.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/27/18156273/burnley-everton-1-5-three-thoughts-marco-silva-yerry-mina-lucas-digne-michael-keane-kurt-zoumamatthew.chandler2018-12-26T18:55:50+00:002018-12-26T18:55:50+00:00Marco Silva: “This is for our fans and our players” after Everton’s drubbing of Burnley
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<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lgq7OnANjiLOe6iC08g53YvKOQM=/0x0:5568x3712/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62739183/1075101536.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marco Silva led Everton to their biggest away league win since September 1985 | Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Blues boss felt his side reacted perfectly after Spurs embarrassment, and lauded two-goal Lucas Digne</p> <p id="hukW7d"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> manager Marco Silva praised his players’ response to end their poorest run of the season with a 5-1 away win at <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a>.</p>
<p id="jhBDk3">The Blues arrived at Turf Moor without a victory in five league games, and on the back of Sunday’s 6-2 embarrassment against <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> at Goodison Park.</p>
<p id="GimZCP">But Silva’s side took the first step to recovery from a difficult month with their trouncing of the Clarets on Boxing Day, and speaking to BBC Sport post-match, the boss said:</p>
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<p id="4nco0P">“The first thing I’d like to say is this is for our fans and our players.</p>
<p id="ROOLCb">”The fans welcomed our players before the match, which is fantastic after a tough result on Sunday. And the players as well, they deserve this.</p>
<p id="QIylrS">”It was a good win for us and now is the moment to rest and prepare for the other quick games.”</p>
</blockquote>
<aside id="rFCbdP"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton 5-1 Burnley: Beatdown","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156402/everton-burnley-recap-results-reaction-goals-highlights-yerry-mina-lucas-digne-gylfi-sigurdsson"},{"title":"Everton at Burnley: Player Grades Poll","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156521/everton-burnley-5-1-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratings"}]}'></div></aside><p id="YSgAwI">Many questioned the mentality of an Everton side who caved horribly after Spurs equalised on Sunday, but today the Blues held off a difficult spell at the end of the first half after Burnley reduced to deficit to 3-1.</p>
<p id="1fGWN4">Silva added that he felt his side answered these critics, and was impressed with their resilience shown at Turf Moor:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="cqiZpl">”I think the best solution to the last result was to play as quickly as you can, luckily for us we played after three days.</p>
<p id="Xb2OxU">”They showed they are here to fight, to compete and to show the ambition we have as a club.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="2wA6uR">It was a generally excellent team performance from Everton against the Clarets, but left-back Lucas Digne will doubtless take the headlines from his brace, the first a free-kick and the second an unstoppable long-range drive.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Yc1EU6OioyrHNWE9cHmoUw1ManU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13650360/1074990066.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Digne’s long-ranger restored Everton’s three-goal lead</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="aUptPo">The £20 million summer signing from Barcelona has settled in excellently to life in the Premier League, and Silva did not go without commending the Frenchman’s start to his time on Merseyside after today’s game:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="eYjtpv">“I think the credit has to go to all the squad and not just one or two, but of course Lucas Digne has done well and settled. </p>
<p id="tePIk5">“We never had any doubts about his quality or his attitude. His left foot is fantastic.”</p>
</blockquote>
<aside id="FnTXiF"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Digne is perfect for Everton’s Christmas","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156605/everton-5-1-burnley-recap-reaction-lucas-digne-goal-free-kick-shot-family-fans-christmas"}]}'></div></aside>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156591/everton-burnley-5-1-recap-reaction-marco-silva-post-match-comments-lucas-digne-premier-leaguematthew.chandler2018-12-26T18:28:50+00:002018-12-26T18:28:50+00:00Digne is perfect for Everton’s Christmas
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<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ywi3lrNOkgRjcpjEiCUIQMMfaMk=/1250x0:3962x1808/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62739002/1074990180.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Lucas Digne celebrates with Marco Silva | Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Left back sparkled again in big Blues win</p> <p id="Pv5tir"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> turned the pre-Christmas frowns upside down today, thrashing <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> 5-1 away for their biggest ever Premier League away win. </p>
<p id="t8nDiy">Lucas Digne grabbed a brace, the first from an exquisite freekick that curled past <span>Joe Hart</span> with no chance, and capped off the game with the fourth, a seeing-eye long-distance shot that travelled straight into the far right corner. The left back has already scored this month with another excellent freekick, with virtually the last kick of the game against <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/watford-fc">Watford FC</a> to nab a point. </p>
<p id="EbRDHB">The Frenchman had some of his family members fly over for the holidays, and though they didn’t have much to cheer about over the weekend, they were certainly entertained today.</p>
<p id="z7ZrlK">Speaking to the BBC after the game, Digne said - </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="iRsrSs">“We feel very good. After Sunday we needed to prove that we can win and play very well. It was an important win for club and the fans.</p>
<p id="laU1Kn">“We needed to start very well and after 30 minutes we were 3-0 up and it was fantastic.”</p>
<p id="PnOZUK"><strong>“</strong>The last four years I have had five days or a week off but I prefer to play in front of the fans and the family. It’s perfect for Christmas.”</p>
</blockquote>
<div id="swpT5l">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Everton's fourth goal was nice <a href="https://t.co/l2z1eAslwQ">pic.twitter.com/l2z1eAslwQ</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1077974876173070338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
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<p id="bTH0Q8">Digne had spoken to <a href="http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2018/12/21/digne">the Everton website</a> ahead of the game and was relishing today’s clash, so things went quite well for him. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="bJFvr6">“It will be my first time playing on Boxing Day. I’m very happy to be playing over Christmas. Christmas is about spending time with your family - and Everton is my family.</p>
<p id="ppQ04i">“We know it will be a very hard game against Burnley. They are a really strong team. They play ‘English-style’ football and are very strong in the challenge. </p>
<p id="rjVwS8">“And it is always difficult when you play away. But every game is very important, the season is so long and anything can happen and we need the points to stay towards the top of the league.</p>
<p id="S8te0F">“I am so happy to play in front of my family. They are in England for three weeks and it is an amazing opportunity.</p>
<p id="LyxPLD">“For me, it’s perfect because you can play football and then after spend time with your family.”</p>
</blockquote>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156605/everton-5-1-burnley-recap-reaction-lucas-digne-goal-free-kick-shot-family-fans-christmasCalvin2018-12-26T17:15:04+00:002018-12-26T17:15:04+00:00Everton at Burnley: Player Grades Poll
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<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/L62WNzMemUXXxVu1Zb5rr1HVn6s=/0x0:3288x2192/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62738459/1074991682.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Grade the Everton players and manager on their performance today </p> <p id="RkJ5qL">Who was your <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> Man of the Match in today’s game against <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a>? Vote to grade the players and manager on how they did.</p>
<p id="Qm0i1Q"><em>If this poll is not showing up on your screen, please </em><a href="https://goo.gl/forms/8VaD9UEQmfrS1fil1"><em><strong>click here</strong></em></a><em> to go and grade the players - we apologize for the inconvenience.</em></p>
<div id="YiAquP"><iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDL0ZDnX4K-Uad99Cc6CNdBpzOu-sVTQ0d1FifFJcRXTPP0Q/viewform?embedded=true" width="100%" height="800" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe></div>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156521/everton-burnley-5-1-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratingsCalvin2018-12-26T17:01:51+00:002018-12-26T17:01:51+00:00Everton at Burnley: Live Blog & Highlights | 5-1 the final score
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<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1fBxuXxs8xCGJ8uwv6Ai8xCysFw=/200x0:3215x2010/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62737136/1074990066.jpg.1545837345.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Blues need to get campaign back on track sharpish</p> <h1 id="cDp2gO">Live Blog</h1>
<p id="JolwXN">90+3’ - Richarlison! The Blues make it five with seconds left on the clock, the Brazilian sub with the cherry on top. Fantastic pass from Sigurdsson. <br>Richie rips off his shirt in celebration and will get a booking. </p>
<div id="tA38zx"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/t/w7ozu" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="kGJKkq"></p>
<p id="hfWz78">90’ - Idrissa Gueye picks up a needless booking for simulation going down rather easily. </p>
<p id="lc76CK">89’ - Gudmundsson tries to emulate Digne with a freekick from distance, skims ove rthe bar with Pickford having that covered. </p>
<p id="tjqe6A">84’ - Burnley still trying. Cross across the box comes close to a number of Clarets players. <br>Corner from Everton’s left comes in, Keane clears. </p>
<p id="QJUlxf">80’ - Tom Davies coming on for Bernard who has been walking gingerly. Good effort from the Brazilian today. </p>
<p id="dLQ7Pr">75’ - Andre Gomes coming off for Idrissa Gueye now. He’s had a tidy day in the middle, but Blues will be very, <em>very</em> relieved to see Gana back on the pitch. </p>
<p id="XcY6OP">71’ - Oh Walcott! Runs into a poor backpass and Hart was quick off his line to foil him. The corner is cleared and falls to Digne about twenty-five yards out.. and his low laser finds the far corner for 4-1!! </p>
<div id="BCOhGY"><div style="width:100%;height:0px;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.327%;"><iframe src="https://streamja.com/embed/oJMk" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen="" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;"></iframe></div></div>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Everton's fourth goal was nice <a href="https://t.co/l2z1eAslwQ">pic.twitter.com/l2z1eAslwQ</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1077974876173070338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2018</a>
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<p id="HqkJGa"></p>
<p id="as409n">The 40 goals Burnley have conceded so far surpasses their entire total for last season. </p>
<p id="usaUBC">69’ - Richie immediately into the thick of things, his run to the byline is not matched by a good center to the waiting Walcott, and it’s cleared for a corner. <br>Keane gets to Digne’s corner from the left but his header is over the bar. </p>
<p id="IwW9dC">67’ - Richarlison is Everton’s first substitution, coming on for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. DCL has shown off his workrate but has not gotten much joy against Burnley’s physical defence. </p>
<p id="sY4d7x">65’ - Smart break from Bernard at pace.. finds Sigurdsson in the box and his shot is blocked. Blues win a corner from that and it’s cleared away despite the Toffees protestations of a push in the box. </p>
<p id="lviXkb">63’ - Burnley make two subs, both are wingers. Let’s see what shape they take, you feel Silva is waiting to see what they do before making his subs. </p>
<p id="PJMwq3">56’ - Bernard getting manhandled here, multiple fouls on him, some called and some not. Quite the physical test for him today. </p>
<p id="ESXkb8">49’ - Blues living dangerously here. Give away another silly freekick. It’s hoofed into the box and Tarkowski gets on the end of that <em>completely unmarked</em>, but lofts it over. Yeesh. </p>
<p id="aadX45">46’ - Everton late to come out after the half. What has Silva told the players? No changes that we can see. </p>
<p id="3gcsRY"><strong>Halftime Thoughts -</strong> Silva will be quite pleased to see how things have worked out with his formation. Unfortunately, it might be working too well as this is not quite the lineup to defend a lead, and with both his midfielders booked, what changes will he make? </p>
<p id="7iOG01">45+4’ - Route 1 football here to finish the half, it’s still 3-1 at halftime. </p>
<p id="lPPa5k">45+2’ - Burnley win another corner, it comes into the six-yard box and Pickford bravely rises in the sea of giants and punches it away. The hosts are putting on some late pressure as the Blues are just looking to get to the break. </p>
<p id="EwQrnQ">42’ - Excellent one-touch passing sequence sees <span>Theo Walcott</span> once again through on goal with a lovely move but can’t find the shot. That happens just <em>way</em> too often. </p>
<p id="4Ph3Ci">39’ - Bernard down on the ground, looked to have pulled a muscle slipping on the pitch. He looks quite unhappy, has played very well so far. </p>
<p id="0rFxpT">36’ - Pickford with a spectacular save! Everton gave away another silly freekick by the right touchline, the freekick comes in and <span>Ashley Barnes</span> gets a header on goal that the goalie parries away. <br>Corner comes in deep, and Tarkowski’s header is somewhat cleared off the line by Pickford and Keane.. everyone stands still and Gibson bundles it home. Poor from the Blues there. </p>
<div id="dUUy0D"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/t/a4jhy" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="LUvJO3"></p>
<p id="dP5RiD">30’ - Now Andre Gomes gives away a bad freekick, and picks up a yellow card too. The freekick from the middle is lofted into the box and <span>Seamus Coleman</span> completely leveled by Ben Gibson flying in. Both players receive attention, but are up and about. </p>
<p id="4mWejL">26’ - <span>Matthew Lowton</span> takes out DCL and goes in the book. </p>
<p id="zxxuk1">22’ - Sigurdsson looking very hungry today, but gets in trouble for a bad tackle, picking up a booking. <br>He follows it up with another foul a couple of minutes later and the home fans are booing wanting to see him sent off. <br>DCL also looking unhappy, holding his right ankle.</p>
<p id="O2HscB">20’ - Bernard nips the ball of James Tarkowski and is through on goal, but his shot is blocked for a corner. Everton have been threatening at these.. ball comes in and it’s a PENALTY! <span>Ben Mee</span> clearly handled that and Michael Oliver points at the spot. <br>Gylfi Sigurdsson steps up after a high-profile miss, but sends Hart the wrong way! 3-0!!</p>
<div id="nl9RiT"><div style="width:100%;height:0px;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.327%;"><iframe src="https://streamja.com/embed/mpAq" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen="" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="LlhlkK">12’ - Bernard has started very well today, puts DCL through and he is clattered outside the box. Needless foul for Burnley to give away just outside the box on the left. <br>Sigurdsson and Digne standing over it.. the Frenchman steps up and WHAT A GOAL!! Right into the top corner and nothing <span>Joe Hart</span> could do about that! 2-0 to the Blues!</p>
<div id="vJDOQs"><div style="width:100%;height:0px;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.327%;"><iframe src="https://streamja.com/embed/prVX" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen="" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;"></iframe></div></div>
<div id="45aIbA">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Get in Dinge lad. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Everton?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Everton</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/burnley?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#burnley</a> <a href="https://t.co/GQUZn54j8r">pic.twitter.com/GQUZn54j8r</a></p>— Vaan Zaant (@dillonefc1005) <a href="https://twitter.com/dillonefc1005/status/1077946055361212417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
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<p id="foJx8L"></p>
<p id="iGLTPp">9’ - Silva’s decision to go with the Gomes and Sigurdsson pairing in the middle making sense so far. </p>
<p id="y2jbbL">4’ - Blues win another corner, cleared away and Mina gets on the end of another cross into the box, but it goes wide this time. Everton have come out pumped up today, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin showing plenty of life up top. </p>
<p id="Y95fUw">1’ - We’re underway here at Turf Moor Seamus Coleman wins an early corner for Lucas Digne to take.. cleared away and Bernard returns the ball to the box and YERRY MINA SCORES! His first for the Blues!</p>
<div id="KY17Fo"><div style="width:100%;height:0px;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.327%;"><iframe src="https://streamja.com/embed/O5AW" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen="" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="gI8pjN">That goal is Everton’s 7,000th in the top flight, the first team to hit that mark. </p>
<p id="rYBafI"><strong>Lineups -</strong> Marco Silva makes some pretty radical changes - if the formation holds as advertised it will be the first time the Blues have lined up in a 3-4-3 under him. </p>
<div id="TCh57U">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | Here it is, Blues... <br><br>You starting XI for today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EFCawayday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EFCawayday</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/BurnleyOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BurnleyOfficial</a>! <a href="https://t.co/gl0v1CNgCu">pic.twitter.com/gl0v1CNgCu</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/1077927476628807682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2018</a>
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<p id="pTnxZJ">Three defenders against Burnley seems a little excessive, but then this also makes sense as the Clarets have a pretty average midfield and getting the two best players in the middle in a position to succeed makes sense. Width shouldn’t be an issue with Digne and Coleman pushed further forward, allowing Bernard and Walcott to play in the channels more. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Votht6">
<p id="HOoimE"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> have picked up just two points in their last five Premier League games, dropping from sixth to eleventh in that bad run. The Blues now go to <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a>, the team that unseated them from seventh last season. </p>
<p id="xlzwrU">The Clarets have suffered from the same Europa League syndrome that the Toffees did last season, crashing out in the group stages and faltering in the Premier League at the same time. </p>
<p id="e73kp4">The less said about last weekend’s debacle against <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> the better, but all Blue eyes will be on Marco Silva and his charges and their reaction to that hiding. </p>
<aside id="qJE5yk"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Burnley v Everton - Boxing Day Match Preview","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/25/18154769/burnley-everton-premier-league-preview-turf-moor-marco-silva-sean-dyche"},{"title":"Everton at Burnley: The Opposition View","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/25/18152742/everton-burnley-premier-league-match-preview-qna-interview-no-nay-never-podcast-natalie-bromley"}]}'></div></aside><h1 id="HHrEcr">Match Details</h1>
<p id="Tn0k5V"><strong>Date and start time:</strong> Wednesday, December 26th at 7:00am PT / 10:00am ET / 3:00pm BST</p>
<p id="jLb1aE"><strong>Stadium:</strong> Turf Moor Stadium, Burnley, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/england">England</a>, United Kingdom</p>
<p id="sd4UgU"><strong>Capacity:</strong> 22,546</p>
<p id="jWmOa0"><strong>Weather: </strong>47°F/8°C, cloudy, 9% chance of precipitation, 7 mph winds</p>
<h1 id="NylbZy">How to Watch/Listen</h1>
<p id="ZqDVb5"><strong>TV:</strong> N/A - <em>United States</em><em>; </em>N/A <em>- </em> <em>United Kingdom,</em> TSN 3 - <em>Canada</em></p>
<p id="mGBAfE"><strong>Radio: </strong>Everton Match Centre, BBC Radio 5 Live, TalkSport Radio World, SiriusXM FC</p>
<p id="41ULCC"><strong>Live stream:</strong> <a href="http://nbcsports.com/">NBCSports.com</a>, Telemundo, <a href="https://fave.co/2OrDihv" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">fuboTV</a>, TSN GO, beIN Sports Connect, Flow Sports App, Optus Sport</p>
<p id="FsYgq9"><strong>Gamethread:</strong> Liveblog will be updated above from one hour before kickoff</p>
<p id="eB2O1I"><a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3018864/burnley-vs-everton/">Information from LiveSoccerTV.com</a></p>
<h1 id="k6zWnV">Lineups</h1>
<h3 id="Zz6RPN">Everton</h3>
<p id="YuqXMK"><strong>Starting XI:</strong> Pickford; Mina, Zouma, Keane; Digne, Sigurdsson, Gomes, Coleman; Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Walcott</p>
<p id="HBo89P"><strong>Subs:</strong> Stekelenburg, Baines, Jagielka, Gueye, Davies, Richarlison, Niasse</p>
<h3 id="hYm7g5">Burnley</h3>
<p id="8vQ3XZ"><strong>Starting X</strong><strong>I:</strong> Hart; Lowton, Gibson, Tarkowski, Mee(C), Taylor; Westwood, Cork, Hendrick; Barnes, Vokes.</p>
<p id="npi2TT"><strong>Subs:</strong> </p>
<h1 id="iU70m7">Last Meeting</h1>
<p id="lj9s6t">The last two times the two sides met were utterly dire affairs - the Blues losing 1-0 at home in October before Cenk Tosun’s goal was in vain as Everton lost 2-1 away at Turf Moor in March. </p>
<p id="t2y1iM"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156024/everton-burnley-live-blog-stream-how-to-watch-online-mina-digne-sigurdsson-goals-highlights-videoCalvin2018-12-26T16:55:36+00:002018-12-26T16:55:36+00:00Everton 5-1 Burnley: Beatdown
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<img alt="Burnley FC v Everton FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9AzdtjW18KAWnz7AfKOlSd8g52w=/57x0:4242x2790/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62738377/1074978934.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>That’ll do, boys.</p> <p id="NvaabY">They don’t ask how, just how many. <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> traveled to Turf Moor today and left with all three points thanks to a 5-1 win. It wasn’t quite as dominant as the scoreline suggested, and <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> may have even created more chances from open play. </p>
<p id="hF0zSc">The Blues, though, were uncharacteristically efficient in taking their chances. Yerry Mina (corner) and Lucas Digne (free kick) both scored on set pieces, Gylfi Sigurdsson buried a penalty, and Digne completed his brace late on with an absolute howitzer past <span>Joe Hart</span>. Oh yeah, Richarlison added the fifth with a nifty outside of the boot finish well into stoppage time.</p>
<p id="aIcK1d">As expected, Sean Dyche’s relegation-threatened side posed a major physical threat. Bernard in particular was subject to numerous borderline challenges, and the Clarets got their only goal off a set piece. Marco Silva’s decision to play a towering back three paid off, though, as Everton mostly handled the aerial bombardment that came their way. </p>
<aside id="jB3A7e"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton at Burnley: Live Blog & Highlights | 5-1 the final score","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156024/everton-burnley-live-blog-stream-how-to-watch-online-mina-digne-sigurdsson-goals-highlights-video"},{"title":"Everton at Burnley: Player Grades Poll","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156521/everton-burnley-5-1-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratings"}]}'></div></aside><p id="21hwWX">In the end, it was a rather strange performance from Everton. Previously against lower table sides, the Blues have dominated but been wasteful. Today, Everton weren’t dominant, but <em>were </em>ruthless, and that quality was the ultimate difference. </p>
<p id="sNDjZb">If Silva can find a suitable balance between the two traits moving forward, Everton will be just fine. Today’s three points were crucially important, certainly, but so too are the six points on offer against Brighton and Leicester. </p>
<p id="7RdWOR">The formation and personnel were somewhat unusual, but the result made it not matter. Marco Silva pulled the right strings on Boxing Day, and his players responded in kind. Onto the Seagulls, then. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/26/18156402/everton-burnley-recap-results-reaction-goals-highlights-yerry-mina-lucas-digne-gylfi-sigurdssonevertonchris