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Everton must secure three points against Clarets

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Richarlison of Everton is challenged by Ben Mee of Burnley during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Burnley FC at Goodison Park on December 26, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Richarlison of Everton is challenged by Ben Mee of Burnley during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Burnley FC at Goodison Park on December 26, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images) /
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After another frustrating game against Leeds United, which Everton eventually lost 1-0, the Blues take on the Clarets of Burnley tomorrow in what’s become another must-win match.

Last weekend’s Premier League game was a frustrating and deflating one and the constant problems that have plagued Everton were again on display.

The Toffees could and perhaps should have lost by more than one goal and the defensive vulnerability seen so often was highlighted again.

This wasn’t helped by a tactical change that Carlo Ancelotti made switching Alex Iwobi from right to left and bringing in Tom Davies in his place. This didn’t really work and compounded the unexpected loss of left-back Lucas Digne earlier in the week.

Digne is still out of course as is the Blues other full-back Seamus Coleman, who hasn’t shaken off his injury problem.

So the first question is who should or will start in Digne’s place on the left assuming that the manager sticks with his 3-4-3?

I hope Ancelotti doesn’t again make the decisions of last weekend and repeat that switch of player positions. I would rather the Everton boss gave Niels Nkounkou his chance in Digne’s position as the teenage left-back has surely done enough to merit a shot at filling in for his countryman.

Or maybe he could look at giving Anthony Gordon another opportunity to show what he can offer as the young academy graduate has been frozen out of the first-team recently.

That would enable Iwobi to go back to playing on the right where hopefully he can flourish again as he did against Fulham.

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The other problem is how to ensure the midfield is strong enough and doesn’t get overrun. Hopefully having a better balance at wing-back will help reinforce the midfield, but I think at times Allan still needs more support in the engine room.

The other issue is that defensive vulnerability. Ancelotti has struggled to solve the problems of sealing up a leaky defence and who lines up at centre-back.

He’s tried Michael Keane and Yerry Mina together and that didn’t work then he has partnered Keane and Mina with Ben Godfrey and then last Saturday, Keane, Godfrey and Mason Holgate.

As yet none of these defensive reshuffles have solved the problems and Everton keep on conceding goals with alarming regularity.

There isn’t a simple answer to the defensive problems, perhaps Holgate’s form will improve as he has been out for a while injured. Or maybe Ancelotti will revert to a flat back four?

As for Burnley they have had a tough season and are struggling to survive in the Premier League culminating in a 5-0 defeat to Manchester City last time out.

Although they’ve conceded a lot of goals their main problem has been scoring them. In the past six games the Clarets have only managed one goal!

So they won’t on paper at least, offer much a threat in attack. However, the Toffees have a poor record at Turf Moor and given the Blues defensive fragility, Burnley will feel  they have chance.