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Everton 2 Burnley 0: Blues sign off at home with win

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Bernard of Everton battles for possession with Matthew Lowton of Burnley during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Burnley FC at Goodison Park on May 03, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Bernard of Everton battles for possession with Matthew Lowton of Burnley during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Burnley FC at Goodison Park on May 03, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Well that was a decent end to the Premier League season at Goodison Park as Everton finished the season at home last night with a fourth consecutive win and fifth straight clean sheet.

I know I’m being a bit greedy but what if Everton could have started this impressive run of home form a few weeks earlier, then who knows where it might have led?

Well anyway it’s a good way to round off the 2018-19 campaign at home.

In truth this was always a game that the Blues should have won given the relative league positions coming into the match and the fine run that the Toffees have been on at the grand old lady.

The Blues have been beating far better sides than Sean Dyche’s team in recent weeks. So it should on paper have been the easiest of their recent opponents at Goodison Park.

Two first half goals via a deflected Richarlison effort and Seamus Coleman header were enough to secure the three points for Everton after a dominant first half display.

Burnley rarely threatened and to some extent they looked as though having secured their Premier League status, their players minds were already drifting to making summer holiday plans.

For Everton this win does keep the pressure on Wolves, for 24 hours or so, in the battle for seventh place and possible European football next season.

I’ve said I’m dubious about whether that would be such a good thing for the Blues. But if the side were to qualify we should be positive and see it as a chance to help attract better players to further boost the squad.

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Marco Silva has stated he wants European football every season to help grow the competitiveness of the team. Well that might not come this time but apart from the Fulham blip this has been a very satisfying end to the season.

Regardless of whether Everton do qualify for Europe, this coming summer is going to be a very important transfer window. Not only do the Blues have to add real quality, players of the calibre of Lucas Digne, but also ensure they can hold onto players like Richarlison who might attract attention.

The challenge is can the club successfully build on the momentum that has been created over the last few months and push on next season; that will be a difficult task.