Burnley vs Everton tips and predictions: Sean Dyche can breathe fire on old club
Sean Dyche of Everton 27 Apr 2023
There will be a warm crowd reception and plenty of boardroom back slapping for Sean Dyche when he makes his first return to Burnley with his in-form Everton side for the Saturday late kick-off (1730).
He might have a pub near the ground named after him, but you’d have to be a fool to think Dyche won’t be desperate to get one over his old club and claim one of the sweetest results of the season.
Obviously he won’t say that out loud, but we all know it.
Dyche was sacked by Burnley in April 2022 after 10 years in charge, during which time he established the Clarets in the Premier League and led them to qualification for the Europa League.
But as they slipped towards relegation in April 2022, Burnley cut him loose. The Dyche era was well and truly over and the Clarets returned to the Premier League with a swagger under Vincent Kompany a season later.
Now Everton are experiencing Dyche’s management style, and, despite that brutal ten-point deduction and the usual sceptics rolling their eyes, it’s working.
Burnley fans will secretly be jealous as their now ‘prettier’ side under Kompany scrap tooth and claw for points at the bottom of the table, while Everton look for their fifth win in six.
The teams have met already this season, with Everton beating Burnley comfortably in the Carabao Cup at Goodison Park. Which included Burnley old boy James Tarkowski getting the opener for the Toffees.
But it’s not a fixture that either side has dominated in the Premier League, with wins for both sides.
However, they’ve haven’t drawn in four across all competitions, and all those games saw over 2.5 goals land.
Though Everton have been defensively solid recently, with three clean sheets on the bounce, suspended duo Jarrad Branthwaite and Idrissa Gueye might make them a bit more open than usual.
The bottom three in the Premier League are at risk of being cut adrift, with Burnley in 19th and the Clarets will be hoping this small bump in form, four points from the last nine, can continue against Everton.
If they can pull off another win it will be their first back-to-back top flight home success since April 2022.
But we can’t see it happening, Everton are certainly not as feeble as Sheffield United, who Burnley beat in their last home match 5-0 in early December.
They had goalkeeper James Trafford to thank for their point against Brighton last weekend and will need him again to get anything out of this match.
This fixture is hardly one to draw huge crowds into the pubs after a tough day of Christmas shopping, and one goal will probably settle it.
Team news
Burnley’s Charlie Taylor is suspended for the match after collecting his fifth yellow of the season against Brighton.
Aaron Ramsey and Josh Cullen are expected to have late fitness tests, while Jack Cork, Luca Koleosho and Lyle Foster are all out.
For Everton Jarrad Branthwaite and Idrissa Gueye are suspended, while Ashley Young, Seamus Coleman, Andre Gomes and Dele Alli will all miss out.
Burnley vs Everton key stats
- This fixture has not seen a draw in four matches
- Everton beat Burnley in the Carabao Cup 3-0 in November
- Everton have won four of last five on road
- Everton 13 points from last six
- Burnley have lost seven of eight at home
Predictions
Correct score – Everton 2-1
Over 2.5 goals
Everton to score in both halves
