Everton Vs Burnley
Thursday 26th December 2019 – 15:00 Kick-Off
English Premier League
Pick: Burnley or Draw (Double Chance)
Odds: 6/5
Bookmaker: Unibet
English Premier League Betting at 22Bet
(All betting odds displayed were correct at time of writing: 24th December 2019 at 08:35)
Preview: Excitement among the blue contingent of Merseyside is rising as Everton prepare for life under Carlo Ancelotti. The former Chelsea manager will take charge of his new team for the very first time on Boxing Day when Burnley, who are searching for their third consecutive Premier League victory, visit Goodison Park.
Everton Vs Burnley Live Stats & Betting Odds
Everton Preview – Will Ancelotti reign begin on a win?
As managerial appointments go, this is about as bold as I can recall in a very long time. Perennial underachievers Everton (15th – W5 D4 L9, GF20 GA29) land a Champions League winning manager in the shape of Carlo Ancelotti. If the Italian wasn’t already aware of the gargantuan task that now awaits, as he attempts to bring success to a club starved of it for so long, he was served up a stark reminder last Saturday as his new team laboured to a dour 0-0 draw with Arsenal at Goodison Park.
The Toffees had recently been enjoying something of a brief resurgence under interim boss Duncan Ferguson, with the club legend departing his role with the team in better shape compared to when he inherited it: unbeaten in three league games (W1 D2) and coming within a penalty shoot-out of reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals. The hope now is that Ancelotti can build on these foundations by embarking on a rapid ascent up the league table, beginning with a favourable home fixture.
In five previous encounters with Burnley on Merseyside, Everton have come out on top in all but one (W4 L1) which includes last season’s 2-0 victory. And in a season of toil, their form at home (W4 D2 L3) has been the one crumb of comfort having secured four out of their five league wins there so far in 2019-20. Gearing up for the big teams hasn’t been a problem then, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Wolves all dropping points at Goodison. Shock defeats to Norwich and Sheffield Utd highlight an all-too-familiar issue, however: winning games they are expected to win.
Burnley Preview – Clarets chasing consecutive victories?
They are not to everyone’s liking, which I doubt will bother them in the slightest, but few can genuinely knock their achievements in the first half of the season with another modest-looking squad. In prevailing at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, when edging a scrappy contest low on attacking quality, Burnley (10th – W7 D3 L8, GF23 GA29) secured their seventh league win of the campaign – which is more than Arsenal and Man Utd have managed and as many as Tottenham, to put that into some context.
Victory at Bournemouth last weekend, coming courtesy of Jay Rodriguez’s late strike in the 89th minute, was also a second win in quick succession having beaten Newcastle 1-0 at home the preceding weekend. Furthermore, it was a second on their travels in the last three such games. Their 3-0 thrashing of Watford sandwiching the 5-0 drubbing endured in North London away to Tottenham. The latter one of many defeats this season when on the road facing supposedly superior teams.
Everton are lower in the table with two fewer wins to their name, so can hardly constitute as a superior outfit at this moment in time. Nevertheless, Burnley don’t possess the best of records on Merseyside. In their five previous visits to Everton in the Premier League, they have won only once (1-0 in 2017/18) and tasted defeat on four occasions (W1 L4). That includes a 2-0 loss in 2018/19. A rare triumph at Goodison would make it three league victories on the bounce, though, and that is some incentive for Sean Dyche and his players.
Everton Vs Burnley – Key Facts:
- Everton approach this first match under new management with one win (at home to Chelsea) accrued from the previous six Premier League fixtures (W1 D3 L3).
- Burnley are seeking a third consecutive Premier League victory, having also won two of their previous three contests away from home (at Watford and Bournemouth).
- The head-to-head favours Everton more however, with the home side prevailing on four of the five previous occasions (W4 L1) these clubs have met at Goodison Park in the Premier League.
Betting Summary
For a team that has accumulated fewer wins over the course of this season, and which has one win from the last six league fixtures (which becomes one in seven league and cup games), seeing Everton (8/11 Betfair) not only as favourites but very short at that simply doesn’t sit right with me. Carlo Ancelotti may well work his magic but that feels presumptive this early into his tenure.
Burnley (4/1 Sportingbet) have struggled on more than one occasion on their travels this season, but those were mostly versus sides currently in the top half of the table. Moreover, The Clarets boast better form having won their past two league matches against Bournemouth and Newcastle, as well as winning two of the last three on their travels.
Perhaps I am looking at this all wrong – and that wouldn’t be the first time – but the visitors are a more cohesive unit right now and boast winning form that Everton simply lack. Burnley are a big price to dampen Carlo Ancelotti’s welcoming party.
