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Burnley vs Everton: Saturday’s Premier League Combined XI

By Marwan Harraz

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Phil Jagielka of Everton and Seamus Coleman of Everton warm up prior to kick off during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Everton at the Vitality Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Phil Jagielka of Everton and Seamus Coleman of Everton warm up prior to kick off during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Everton at the Vitality Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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Everton face off against Burnley at Turf Moor hoping to secure three vital points away from home after last weekends draw with Manchester City. Let’s take a look at the combined XI of the teams-

Key stats-

Goals: Lukaku (Everton), Sam Vokes (Burnley)

Assists: Bolasie (Everton), Steven Defour (Burnley)

Chances Created: Barkley (Everton), Steven Defour (Burnley)

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper- Stekelenburg

Everton’s goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg, hardly faces any serious competition from Tom Heaton, especially after last weekend’s heroics. Not to mention his return to his international team, playing for the Dutch against the French team for the World Cup qualifiers.

Defence- Keane, Jagielka, Williams, Coleman

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Ashley Williams of Everton reacts during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Everton at The Hawthorns on August 20, 2016 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20 Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

In defence we have one of the Premier League’s most experienced pair of centre backs in Phil Jagielka and Ashley Wiliams. They’ve produced consistently high performances and have formed a solid partnership at the back to make a recently shaky Everton side look hard to beat.

Former Manchester United man Michael Keane has impressed for Burnley since signing for them. So much so that there were rumours of him getting a full international call up to the England side after, ironically, Jagielka pulled out due to injury. Fully deserving of the praise that has gone his way, he’s earned his place in this starting XI.

Coleman is another consistent performer with his good form hardly going unnoticed with Manchester United apparently interested in his services. The Republic of Ireland international scored his first goal for his country during the recent break and continues to impress at right back.

Midfield- Gueye, Barry, Steven Defour

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Everton's Gareth Barry (No.18) is congratulated by team mates after scoring his sides equalising goal to make the score 1 - 1 during the Premier League match between Everton and Middlesbrough at Goodison Park on September 17, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Rich Linley/CameraSport via Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17 (Photo by Rich Linley/CameraSport via Getty Images) /

In midfield Everton’s hard working duo, Gareth Barry and Idrissa Gueye, hardly face any serious competition for their places in this starting Xi with only Steven Defour capable of providing similar performances.

Barry has been highly regarded for quite some time by the Toffees and continues to produce lung busting performances. His perfect partner in crime is Gueye who is considered to be Koeman’s signing of the season. Pair tireless running with perfectly timed interceptions and tackles, it’s hard to pick anyone above these two.

Steven Defour however, perfectly deserves to be included in this discussion. Capable of providing the creative spark needed in this central trio, Defour walks easily into this starting XI. The Burnley man has created the most chances and assists in the Premier League for his new team whilst maintaining a high pass completion to help keep things ticking.

Forwards- Lukaku, Mirallas, Gudmundsson

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates after Chris Smalling of Manchester United scored own goal during The Emirates FA Cup semi final match between Everton and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on April 23, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 23 (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

Wingers Kevin Mirallas and Johann Berg Gudmundsson have hardly set the league alight but are quietly putting in decent performances, better performances than their respective teammates anyways. According to Squawka they rank higher in their total performance scores so far.

Both are capable of being creative wingers having been responsible for a combined 15 chances whilst also maintaining respectable shot accuracy. More importantly perhaps, is their willingness to defend with the pair putting in a decent amount of defensive actions that would suggest they’re willing to help out their full backs.

More from Prince Rupert's Tower

Up front is one of the leagues most in form strikers in Lukaku. While his competitors score consistently for what are considered bigger teams, Lukaku consistently has a high number of goals meaning he competes with the leagues best.

Perhaps the most telling factor that makes a world class striker is their capability of converting half chances into goals and as everyone saw against Manchester City, Lukaku is more than capable of doing so.

That completes our starting XI, who would you put in an Everton and Burnley combined XI?

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