Since the 6th of December, Everton had failed to win any of their five home games. After a promising start to life at Hill Dickinson, their recent woes had slightly soured the mood amongst fans. Their next visitors, however, were major strugglers Burnley, who had won only one of their last nineteen Premier League games. With David Moyes’s side fresh from an impressive away victory against Newcastle United, the manager named an unchanged team, sticking with Dwight McNeil and Beto after their impressive cameos in the North East.
From the outset, Everton’s plan to take control of the game was clear. They kept the ball, moving it from side to side, patiently awaiting an opening. The visitors struggled to get a foot in, and their counterattacks were quickly snuffed out by James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, who looked comfortable throughout. The Blues won a few early corners in front of the south stand (both teams having switched sides before kick-off), but never really threatened Martin Dubravka in the Burnley net. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall came closest before the twenty‑minute mark, as one of James Garner’s deliveries fell to him on the edge of the box, but his effort went over the bar.
Despite all the possession, it seemed the likeliest method of opening the scoring would be through a James Garner set piece. Illiman Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall and McNeil all tried to slice open the defence, but to no avail. McNeil managed to win a free kick after half an hour, giving Garner another opportunity to swing a dangerous ball into the box. This time, the ball was positioned halfway into Burnley territory and to the right, allowing Garner to deliver an inswinging cross towards the back post. Both Branthwaite and Tarkowski attacked it, and it was the captain who headed Everton into the lead. It was his first goal since the Merseyside derby, and just as he did that famous day, he cupped his ears in celebration. Moyes’s men deserved the goal, and it brought a sense of calm to the stadium.
Everton threatened to double their lead on the cusp of half-time as they turned up the pressure once again. After a penalty shout for Ndiaye was dismissed, Everton won a free kick on the left, once more left for Garner to deliver. The all‑action midfielder found Branthwaite at the front post to flick on, similar to his goal in the previous game. However, Dubravka palmed away the effort, and Dewsbury-Hall’s shot from the rebound took a deflection for another corner. Burnley managed to hold on, and Everton took a deserved lead into the break.
Both teams resumed unchanged, with Burnley continuing with their back five. Everton began as they had left off, controlling proceedings and counter‑pressing effectively. Less than ten minutes in, Garner pounced on a loose touch from a midfielder in light blue and won the ball back. It dropped to Idrissa Gana Gueye, who roamed forward with only two defenders — and Beto — between himself and the goal. As he approached the box, Ndiaye burst forward to his left. Gueye held on, waiting for the perfect moment to slide the ball through to either Beto on the right or Ndiaye on the left, and eventually opted for his international teammate. However, by the time he made his decision, Ndiaye had drifted into an offside position. Despite a smooth touch and finish from the winger, the goal was rightly ruled out.
McNeil had so far justified his place on the right, driving forward, winning vital free kicks and working tirelessly off the ball. On the hour mark, the number seven played a give‑and‑go with Beto. The return ball bobbled up, giving McNeil plenty to do to keep the attack alive. He managed to control it and slide the ball out to Ndiaye on the left, who quickly threaded a pass behind the defence for the onrushing Dewsbury-Hall to pounce on and flick over the goalkeeper for Everton’s second. The fans had seen it all in recent home games: a one‑goal advantage against a struggling side was never enough to relax them, but the second goal solidified a result that, in truth, was never in danger. Scott Parker tinkered, switching to a back four, but the gulf in quality was evident.
Gueye threatened to make it three in the 74th minute. The tireless midfielder had covered every blade of grass, and a goal would have capped another selfless display by the veteran. A give‑and‑go with Garner strayed towards Kyle Walker, but Gueye’s determination to regain the ball was too much for the tiring defender. A sliding tackle allowed him to win possession, and after a drop of the shoulder, he fired towards the far corner — only for the effort to hit the woodwork.
Burnley were spent, and Everton pushed for a third, with Dewsbury-Hall having another effort saved. However, the referee clearly felt Jordan Pickford needed something to do, adding two extra minutes on top of the allotted stoppage time and allowing Burnley one last corner. Ashley Barnes appeared to handle the ball as it was whipped in, but play continued, and Lyle Foster managed to flick his boot at the following effort. Pickford reacted quickly, denying the South African from point‑blank range, and Vitaliy Mykolenko cleared to ensure a tenth clean sheet of the campaign — confirming a much‑needed home victory for the Toffees.
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