Burnley vs Everton Prediction & Betting Tips (27 December)

Disembarked from the Championship last spring, Burnley may well have to take the elevator in the other direction next May. Not really at the level necessary to perform well at the highest level of English football, the promoted side are floundering in 19th position in the ranking, with only 11 points taken after 17 days, 7 less than the first non-relegation team. In great pain for weeks, the Clarets had gone through a terrible series of 7 consecutive losses, the last of which were against Crystal Palace 0-1, Newcastle 1-2 and finally Fulham 2-3. On the other hand, last week, Scott Parker's men finally stopped the bleeding by holding off Bournemouth 1-1. Often stuck in the 2nd part of the table in recent years or even concerned by the fight for maintenance, this Everton team offers a much better face this season.

The Liverpool-based club is actually in 10th place in the rankings and is only 5 points behind the Big 4 before this pivotal holiday period. The Toffees had also shown great promise by stringing together 4 successes in 5 days like against Bournemouth 0-1 and Nottingham Forest 3-0. Unfortunately for them, Jordan Pickford's partners had to give up in quick succession against Chelsea 2-0 and Arsenal 0-1. 

There are still a few absences to report from Burnley. We can indeed cite the long-term injured Beyer, Roberts (defenders) and Amdouni (attacker) as well as the replacement Humphreys who must all withdraw. To this we add that the senior defender Tuanzebe, the playmaker Mejbri (who was suspended by the disciplinary committee until the end of December) and the starting striker Foster left to play the African Cup of Nations with their respective selections. Offensively, French midfielder Ugochukwu (3 goals in PL) manages to do well but he remains behind the interesting Anthony (4 goals) and the prolific Flemming (5 goals). Among the Toffees, the important defenders Coleman and Branthwaite must be patient in the infirmary.

The Dewsbury-Hall playmaker must also throw in the towel as executives Gueye and Ndiaye have both left to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations. In the absence of Dewsbury-Hall (4 goals and 2 assists in PL) and Ndiaye (4 goals and 2 assists in PL), attackers Grealish (2 goals and 4 assists in PL) and Barry (1 goal in PL) will have to take more responsibility to liven up the offensive sector which remained amorphous against the Gunners last weekend.  The probable line-ups for Burnley - Everton:Burnley: Dubravka - Walker, Ekdal, Estève, Pires - Ugochukwu, Cullen, Florentino - Edwards, Broja, Bruun Larsen.Everton: Pickford - O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko - Iroegbunam, Garner - McNeil, Alcaraz, Grealish - Barry.