Carlo Ancelotti’s men missed their chance to pressure the top 4 as they lost their second game in a row, this time falling to a 1-2 defeat to Sean Dyche’s Burnley.
The impressive performance from the visitors, Burnley, saw them claim their first win in 5 matches and moved them 7 points clear of the relegation zone.
Since their opening two home games, Everton have won just three of the last 12 at Goodison Park, including defeats to Fulham, Newcastle and now Burnley.
Speaking after the match, Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti said the result was a “Big disappointment.”
“We lost a great opportunity to climb the table. We made the same mistakes we have in games this season at home.”
Ancelotti has previously spoken out against his side poor run at home, but there seems to be no signs of a turn around any time soon.
The Italian was quick to praise the visitors for the way they played. “I respect (their) style of play, that I like a lot, they are not reinventing football because football is already invented”.
Ancelotti went on to admit that his side were not good enough and that the visitors deserved the win.
The Game
The game got off to a quick start with Burnley intensely pressing the home side leading to a mistake from Midfielder, Tom Davies.
Dwight McNeil capitalised on the mistake taking the chance to chip in a good cross that was met by Chris Wood for the opener in the 13th minute.
Everton were unable to get a foothold in the game after conceding an early goal and could have conceded a second just minutes later when McNeil’s corner striking the arm of Mason Holgate.
The incident sparked massive appeals from the Burnley bench and players alike.
Referee, Jon Moss quickly dismissed the appeals and told the players to get on with it.
Moments later, McNeil was involved in the action again, this time gliding past the challenge of Allan and curled a fantastic effort into the top corner past the outstretched arms of Pickford.
The hosts were able to half the deficit in the 32nd minute, through Calvert-Lewin, the misery continued to pile on Ancelotti who lost starting his keeper, Pickford, to injury just before the break leading to a Premier League debut for Joao Virginia.
Following the break, the Blues piled on the pressure but were unable to break down Burnley’s back line often, and when called upon keeper, Nick Pope was always up to the task.
Line Ups
Everton: Pickford, Godfrey, Keane, Holgate, Digne, Allan, Gomes, Iwobi, Davies, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Virginia, King, Coleman
Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters, Brownhill, Westwood, Gudmundsson, McNeil, Vyrda , Wood
Subs: Brady, Rodriguez
Man of the match: Dwight McNeil
(Image under creative commons licence by Илья Хохлов)
