Next Up: Burnley v Everton | OneFootball

No longer a Boxing Day fixture straight after Christmas, Everton's next match at Burnley has to now take place on 27 December at Turf Moor. 

While the traditional matchday calendar has been stretched across the weekend to accommodate the whims of broadcasters, the mission for David Moyes and his squad remains unchanged: arrest what is showing signs of developing into a worrying losing streak and reclaim the momentum that had us looking upward just a few weeks ago, rather than slidng back down into the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Everton arrive in the old Lancashire milltown sitting 10th in the table, but with a bit of a pre-Christmas hangover following a frustrating 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal last weekend. Despite that setback, the Blues have been showing a little more bite on the road lately, including two precious wins at Old Trafford and the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth.

Burnley, managed by Scott Parker, are in dire straits. Currently 19th and 7 points from safety, they’ve managed just 1 point from their last six matches — a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth last time out. For Everton, this encounter probably assumes the highly dubious proportions of a "must-win" match if David Moyes's European ambitions are to be taken seriously.

But Everton must go into this match again missing a trio of their vital midfield players: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is still out with the hamstring injury that forced him off against Chelsea, while Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye have deserted their club for Afcon appearances with Senegal.

Jack Grealish has shaken off a hamstring scare and is fit to start but he must get back to strongly influencing games, setting up decent chances, and above all, having a go himself, or his contribution will again be mainly to slow the game down for no ultimate gain.

On the other flank, Dwight McNeil will almost certainly be selected by Moyes to start against his old club. But he has been so poor when unleashed that surely Tyler Dibling should be shown the trust required for him to start the game in an effort to give him the confidence he desperately needs to make the move north a promising boost to his fledgling career as a professional footballer — and not the premature death sentence that it appears to be so far.

Jarrad Branthwaite remains sidelined for another month, meaning the partnership of James Tarkowski and Michael Keane will continue in the centre of defence against their former club, with Jake O'Brien once again filling in at right-back as he tries to recover from the embarrassment of last week's volleyball move that gifted a penalty and ultimately the game to Arsenal.

Burnley are also depleted by Afcon, missing Lyle Foster, Hannibal Mejbri, and Axel Tuanzebe.

Everton have dominated this fixture recently, winning three of the last four meetings. Burnley’s defensive record is the second-worst in the league (with 34 goals conceded), while Everton’s xG suggests we’ve actually been under-scoring relative to the chances created for the Chuckle Brothers, Beto and Barry, who continue to persist with their battle to the bottom to see who can secure the title of "Worst Premier League Striker in Living Memory".

Despite the stark difference in talent pools, the standard tried and tested Moyes formula for securing points will undoubtedly be employed: keep it tight at the back; hope Grealish might just provide the spark, and somehow someone can nick one to stay ahead of The Clarets and steal the points.

Turf Moor is rarely "easy" but, against a side that we hope really has forgotten how to win, Everton must ensure they don't hand out any post-Christmas gifts to the bottom-dwellers.

Reader Comments (24)

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Edward Rogers 1 Posted 24/12/2025 at 17:10:54

Nice little comment MK, " a side who's forgotten how to win".

Didn't we hear that from a certain Mr Dyche when he was Burnley boss? Hope that night's result isn't repeated.

Merry Christmas all and enjoy our 2-O win on Saturday.

Jim Bennings 2 Posted 24/12/2025 at 18:53:55

I've got a uncertain feeling about this one.

If we had Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye in that midfield I would be confident we'd go there and beat them but the midfield will be an absolute mishmash and lack any pace or thrust.

Two away games in three days followed by Brentford at home, maybe if we can rack up 5 points here it wouldn't be a terrible haul, obviously I'd be wanting 7 at least from that trio of fixtures, albeit not very likely right now.

Derek Knox 4 Posted 24/12/2025 at 20:36:43

I share some trepidation before this match, for a couple of reasons. We re depleted through injuries and AFCON absentees. They (Burnley) are in a precarious position and will be desperate not only for the points but to put on a post Xmas show in front of their ever increasing disillusioned fans.

They had a fantastic season to gain promotion, which rarely translates to the Premier League, with Sunderland proving an exception up to now. I think we may win but it won't be an easy match, and that will depend on Moyes's selection.

5 Posted 24/12/2025 at 21:47:46

Bit off topic

THE BALLAD OF DAVE ABRAHAMS(To the tune of Fairy Tale of New York")

It was Christmas Eve, DaveAt the B.. M..DA..bra..hams said to me"Won't see another win"

And as he sang a songThe Spirit of the BluesI raised my fist right up"Next year.. we win the cup"

God Bill's the lucky oneCame in...30 (million) to oneI've got a feelingThis year's for something Blue

So happy ChristmasI love ya DaveyI can see a better worldWhere Champions wear blue.

Happy Christmas ToffeeWebbers!

Raymond Fox 8 Posted 24/12/2025 at 22:35:58

It will be a game between two poor teams, they have home advantage, while we are the better side by a short neck.

Even they have scored 1 goal more than us, but have leaked 14 more goals.It's got 0-0 or 1-0 to us or them all over it.

I just hoping for some luck and we manage a goal scorer.

Paul Griffiths 11 Posted 25/12/2025 at 03:15:08

Raymond Fox 8 -It will be a game between two poor teams, they have home advantage, while we are the better side by a short neck.

Come on, Raymond, we're 13 points ahead of them.

1-2

Dave Abrahams 12 Posted 25/12/2025 at 08:37:41

Kevin (10)What a great Christmas song that was — leave football for today it’s two days to the game so Merry Christmas to all Bluenoses and a Happy Healthy New Year to all of You.

Dave Abrahams 13 Posted 25/12/2025 at 08:43:12

Brendan (5)Posted my own post before I looked at the others- - That’s the spirit mate and I know Breige will be at mass today or went last night—tell her Happy Christmas off me and June and we often talk of her and remember her.

Paul Hewitt 14 Posted 25/12/2025 at 09:02:59

This is the first of 4 very winnable games. I'm expecting 12 points.

Bill Griffiths 15 Posted 25/12/2025 at 09:10:12

Merry Christmas to you too Dave.

Tony Abrahams 16 Posted 25/12/2025 at 09:15:30

The ability to laugh at oneself is slowly becoming a thing of the past, Kevin, although not everyone is going to agree with me on this beautiful morning.

They have tarnished a great song, although the obvious contradiction of what I should already be aware, is that it's only fucking words!

Merry Christmas everyone, I must have got a visit from one of the ghosts of Christmas past in my sleep last night, because I've really enjoyed watching the joy that Christmas can bring this morning.

If you accompany your wife to mass, Brendan, then say a prayer for Everton. Hopefully 2026 is going to be the year that we finally get to win the FA Cup again.

Raymond Fox 18 Posted 25/12/2025 at 10:52:00

Paul @ 11, Yes I know we are 13 points better, but we are now 3 or 4 of our best players short.

I see you have given me my full title, Paul, is this your schoolmaster persona coming out again?

Tony Abrahams 19 Posted 25/12/2025 at 11:04:19

I thought Fulham, played some very good football under Scott Parker, so it'll be interesting to see how Burnley play.

Mihir Ambardekar 20 Posted 25/12/2025 at 11:34:35

We are not in a good moment currently. In-form player in Dewsbury-Hall injured. Ndiaye and Gueye to Afcon. Strikers still not scoring, nor look like scoring.

Off-form player in form McNeil and struggling player in Dibling. I will be pleasantly surprised if we win this match. Mostly it looks like a draw!

Raymond Fox 22 Posted 25/12/2025 at 15:22:22

Enjoy the rest of the day and have a good 2026 guys.

Mark Murphy 23 Posted 25/12/2025 at 16:51:26

“Happy Healthy New Year to all of You”

Right now healthy seems a very long way off! I'm stuffed and full of red wine and stiff as fuck from sitting upright around a dinner table for 5 hours but I'm looking forward to back to “normal”.

I agree with PH -- 12 points is achievable.

Merry Christmas all and UTFT