Everton secured a dominant 2-0 victory over struggling Burnley, propelled by key goals from James Tarkowski and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, which cemented their European qualification ambitions.
Everton secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Burnley at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with goals from James Tarkowski and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sealing a comfortable Premier League win. This result highlighted Everton’s defensive solidity and clinical finishing.
Entering the match, Everton sat eighth in the Premier League, aiming to build on recent form that included two wins and a draw from their last five outings. Meanwhile, struggling Burnley occupied 19th position, desperately needing points to escape the relegation zone.
The hosts started brightly, immediately taking control of possession and pressing high. Everton dictated the tempo, with James Garner pulling the strings in midfield. Burnley defended deep, attempting to soak up pressure and launch counter-attacks.
Everton’s dominance paid off in the 32nd minute. A precisely delivered corner kick from James Garner found the towering James Tarkowski. He rose highest to powerfully head the ball past the Burnley goalkeeper. It was a well-worked set-piece.
The opening goal further galvanized Everton, who continued to probe the Burnley defence. Despite their efforts, Burnley struggled to create meaningful chances. Their attacking forays were often stifled before reaching the final third.
At the break, Burnley manager Vincent Kompany surely demanded more attacking intent from his side. Everton, holding a slender but deserved lead, needed to maintain their focus and defensive discipline to secure all three points.
Burnley made early changes in the 57th minute to inject fresh impetus. Lamine Tchaouna and James Ward-Prowse entered the fray, replacing Joe Worrall and Florentino. However, it was Everton who quickly capitalized on the shift in play.
Just three minutes later, in the 60th minute, Everton doubled their advantage. Iliman Ndiaye provided a clever assist, threading a pass to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who fired a low shot into the net. The goal provided a crucial cushion for the home side.
Burnley’s frustration grew, evident when B. Humphreys received a yellow card in the 64th minute. Both managers utilized their benches extensively. Everton made five late changes, including bringing on Michael Keane and Tom Barry, to see out the match.
The statistics painted a clear picture of Everton’s control; they finished with 56% possession and 14 total shots, with an expected goals (xG) of 1.1. Burnley managed only 44% possession and a mere five shots, yielding a low 0.12 xG, reflecting their struggle.
