Carlo Ancelotti makes his Premier League return as he takes charge of Everton for the first time against Burnley at Goodison Park.
Everton could go 13th with a win and results elsewhere swinging in their favour, as Burnley look to temporarily move up to seventh depending on how Tottenham fare at lunchtime.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesMorgan Schneiderlin could return for Everton after missing recent games due to a calf strain.
Theo Walcott however is still sidelined with a similar issue until the New Year alongside Jean-Phillipe Gbamin (tendon).
Alex Iwobi is out with a hamstring strain with no estimated return date alongside Andre Gomes (ankle).
Burnley will be without Jeff Hendricks as he serves a one match ban after collecting his fifth booking of the season last weekend, away at Bournemouth.
Ben Gibson meanwhile could return from a groin injury that has kept him out of the Clarets’ last two games against Newcastle and Bournemouth respectively.
Stat Attack
- Everton have won just two of their last five league meetings with Burnley (W2, L3).
- Burnley have won just one of their last five trips to Goodison Park, winning 1-0 in October 2017 (W1, L4).
- Four of Everton’s last seven goals against Burnley came from defenders (Seamus Coleman, Yerry Mina, Lucas Digne & Ben Mee own goal).
- Burnley’s James Tarkowski has made a league-high 54 headed clearances so far this season.
- Lucas Digne is the only Everton player to have made 1000+ touches after 18 games this season, having managed 1,299 touches in 18 appearances
Prediction
After rediscovering their fight under Duncan Ferguson, this is a huge chance for Everton to show their potential under Ancelotti given how tight the battle for fifth is.
Burnley however know how to dig deep when necessary and were simply clinical on Saturday to edge their way past Bournemouth, which will stand them in good stead against the challenge of an Ancelotti managed team.
I therefore can see a real fight here between both teams given the closeness of the table but I am going for a home win, simply because the Toffees will want to impress with a momentum boosting win in Ancelotti’s home debut.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Burnley
Result: Everton 1-0 Burnley