Tactical Analysis: How Everton can hurt Burnley
Everton take on Burnley in the Premier League on Monday night at Goodison Park as they look to continue their fine start to the season.
The Toffees are unbeaten in the league and have scored at least two goals in every game so far.
The Clarets head to Merseyside in desperate need of a win, and in this piece, we will analyse how the Toffees can hurt Burnley and what they need to watch out for themselves.
Burnley’s strengths and goals this season
Burnley under Sean Dyche are a side that often plays 4-4-2, relies on long balls, gets the ball out wide, and puts crosses into the box [WhoScored].
They like to get the ball forward to Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes at any opportunity and are seen as an aggressive team.
WhoScored claim that they are very strong at aerial duels and attacking set-pieces, and both those traits have been shown this season.
The Clarets have only scored two goals this season, but both have come from set-pieces or the immediate aftermath of a set-piece.
Their first goal of the season was scored by James Tarkowski and came from a deep corner.
As the ball comes in Burnley have managed to create a block on the goalkeeper and Tarkowski is free at the back post.
The end result is that Tarkowski is able to rise unchallenged at the back post to nod past the helpless goalkeeper.
That goal probably should have been disallowed for a foul by Tarkowski, but it is the perfect example of how Burnley play.
Their only other goal of the season also came from a set-piece and some poor defending by Leeds United.
This time Dwight McNeil sends the corner in, but Tarkowski is the target again.
The big centre-back wins his header and crashes a bullet header off the bar.
The ball is then recycled back out to McNeil who sends in another teasing delivery that causes problems for Leeds.
Liam Cooper wins the header but it drops to the unmarked Matt Lowton.
He then fires it back in and Chris Wood stabs it home in front of the goalkeeper who gets a slight touch.
So, there you have it, the Clarets are most likely to be scoring from set-pieces, and Everton will have to watch out.
However, Burnley are very vulnerable down the wings and are described as very weak for stopping attacks down the sides.
So, the Toffees with Lucas Digne, Andros Townsend, Demarai Gray, and Seamus Coleman should be able to cause some serious problems for Dyche’s men.
Then with Dominic Calvert-Lewin attacking crosses, it is pretty clear where the Toffees can hurt Burnley.
In their game against Liverpool, Diogo Jota scored a header from a cross.
The ball then is played back to Tsimikas who has all the time in the world to send in his cross.
Jota then beats Mee to the ball and plants in a wonderful header to give the hosts the lead.
Now, if Jota can do that, you would imagine Calvert-Lewin can as well.
So, there you have it. The Toffees have a very good chance of beating Burnley on Monday if they can defend set-pieces properly and attack down the wings.
To be honest, we can see the Toffees winning quite comfortably and would be very surprised if Calvert-Lewin didn’t score.
In other Everton news, James Rodriguez has been handed a lifeline.
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