Burnley 1 Everton 5: Digne at the double as Toffees bounce back in style

Everton scored three times in the opening 22 minutes on the way to a 5-1 crushing of Burnley at Turf Moor.

Published : Dec 26, 2018 23:30 IST

Everton players celebrate a goal during their 5-1 thumping of Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Everton players celebrate a goal during their 5-1 thumping of Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday.
lightbox-info

Everton players celebrate a goal during their 5-1 thumping of Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Lucas Digne scored twice as Everton responded to its Tottenham humiliation with a 5-1 away hammering of Burnley on Boxing Day.

Thumped 6-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday, the pressure was on the Merseysiders to end a five-match winless streak and they all-but achieved the task in the space of 22 minutes at Turf Moor.

Digne's free-kick - his second in four matches - and a Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty added to Yerry Mina's second-minute opener, before Ben Gibson marked his Premier League debut for Burnley with a goal.

RELATED| MATCH CENTRE

But the Clarets, now three points behind fourth-bottom Cardiff City, never looked like avoiding an eighth loss in 10 matches, which was confirmed through Digne's exquisite second in the 71st minute and a tidy a late Richarlison finish.

Toffees boss Silva urged his players to "show character" following their meek surrender to Spurs and they delivered in a devastating start.

Mina rose unchallenged to nod home his first Premier League goal from Bernard's corner, before left-back Digne beat Joe Hart with a classy curling free-kick in the 13th minute.

Ben Mee's handball from a set-piece then enabled Sigurdsson to coolly extend the margin from the spot, although the Clarets were given a glimmer of hope when Gibson turned in James Tarkowski's blocked header eight minutes before the break.

RELATED|  Salah strikes again to punish City loss as Klopp reaches 100 wins

England international Tarkowski squandered a glorious chance to further reduce the deficit soon after the restart, slicing a close-range half-volley over the crossbar.

The miss was compounded 19 minutes from the end as France defender Digne fired a left-footed drive into the bottom-right corner to ensure Everton serenely ascended back into the top half, with substitute Richarlison poking home a fifth right at the end after Sigurdsson played him in.

What does it mean? Dyche must fix defence

An adjustment in personnel from the 3-1 loss at Arsenal - Gibson coming in for Kevin Long - failed to remedy a Burnley defence that has now conceded more goals than the 39 it conceded last season.

The side was unacceptably charitable in the first half and Dyche will know the issues need urgent fixing if it is to escape the drop zone.

Digne deadly again

Digne exhibited his goal-scoring prowess with a last-gasp equaliser at home to Watford earlier this month and was again influential going forward.

RELATED|  Pogba strikes twice in happy homecoming for Solskjaer

His two goals were both efforts of which his more naturally attacking team-mates would be proud.

Mee all at sea

While his team-mates hardly covered themselves in glory, but captain Mee's poor performance was the most destructive of Burnley's defensive implosion.

The experienced centre-back failed to pick up Mina for Everton's opener and gifted away the third by needlessly raising his arm.

What's next?

Everton can look towards Saturday's trip to Brighton and Hove Albion with confidence, while Dyche will demand better from Burnley when it hosts West Ham the following day.

RELATED|  Pereira strike sinks City to third spot

 

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment