Burnley

Burnley have drawn their past two games but they really need a win because they are a little adrift at the bottom - six points from safety.

Scott Parker is under a bit of pressure and a few of their fans have called up 606 saying they want a change. I still think they have been competitive though, even if they haven't beaten anyone since 26 October.

Newcastle could do with a victory as well though. They are a strange side because they have been playing quite well but not really getting results. I keep backing them to win, so it is costing me too.

I'm not going to stop though. I'm going for a rare away win for Eddie Howe's side - and this time they will keep a clean sheet.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley manager Scott Parker says Maxime Esteve is "closer" to match fitness.

The defender started every Premier League game for Burnley before he suffered a knock in training on 20 December.

Esteve, 23, missed the Clarets' draw with Bournemouth and was not fit to return against Everton.

But Parker is hopeful that Esteve's return is imminent.

"Maxime's closer," Parker said.

"Hopefully he'll be back in training with us [on Sunday] and hopefully he'll be in the frame to play."

Burnley face Newcastle again on Tuesday after losing 2-1 at St James' Park earlier in December, with Lucas Pires being shown a red card at the end of the first half.

"It'll be a tough game. They're a really good side and an aggressive side - a man v man team," Parker added.

"We're coming off two positive performances where we've looked really solid.

"We've probably given up a few chances and also we've shown another side to us in the attacking phase where we looked a real threat.

"We could take some huge positives from last time we played Newcastle, certainly before the sending off, so we'll prep and we'll get into this game now."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Burnley and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Burnley fans

Paul: That was better from the Clarets. Everton had more shots on target but for once it looked like Burnley could win it. Some big chances missed. One that slipped away.

Harvo: More positive display than we have been seeing but our lack of quality in the final third will cost us dear.

Peter: Best home performance for a while. Don't know why Scott Parker keeps picking Marcus Edwards though - he very rarely beats an opponent and is easily taken off the ball. Desperately need a decent striker.

Graham: Scott Parker says football is like a boxing match. Unfortunately, we are going down without a fight. He sends them in with one hand tied behind their backs.

Everton fans

Jeff: If you don't have a proper striker and you are missing your three best players - Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye - I guess a draw is a good outcome. Having said that, we played Burnley. Second from bottom Burnley! Even worse is the fact that for a new much needed striker we have to rely on the same people who bought £40 million Tyler Dibling and £9 million Adam Aznou this summer. We all know how that worked out!

Paul: We are certainly down to the bare bones. Playing with a midfield that haven't played together this season was a big ask. The rebuild is still underway and this was a good point given our absences. I do fear the Nottingham Forest and Brentford games coming up if we don't get some players back.

Christopher: Truly shocking first half. Improvement in second half with both sides having chances. Apart from Tim Iroegbunam, none of the replacements did themselves any favours. To be fair to David Moyes he had few options on the bench to change things up. Without Grealish, KDH and Ndiaye, we are a bang average lower to midtable side.

Mike: Let's not sugarcoat it - that was absolutely woeful from Everton. We offered nothing; no runners off the ball, passing backwards, sideways or giving it away time and time again. Forest away next. Repeat that performance and we will get hammered.

Ajax have identified Burnley defender Quilindschy Hartman, 21, as one of their main targets for the upcoming January transfer window. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Betty Glover
Final Score reporter at Turf Moor

Image source, Getty Images

This game was between Burnley and Everton was far from a thriller and was probably destined to be goalless from the outset, given both teams have been struggling in front of goal and lacking creativity.

And a point does little to help either side in the Premier League standings.

But for Burnley, come May, those three points could have been crucial.

Scott Parker's reaction at full-time said it all - a simple shake of the head as he walked away from his technical area with his hands in his pockets.

He will feel his team should have won that. But once again, a lack of finishing touch - and possibly a lack of luck - cost them. Even though none of their 16 shots were on target, they arguably had the better opportunities.

Zian Flemming and Jacob Bruun Larsen went agonisingly close, with Armando Broja also having an opening in the first half.

Burnley looked more organised in the final third and defensively more secure, offering Parker some positives to take away.

Yet with the halfway point of the season approaching and the gap to safety now six points, those small positives may not be enough.

The question is, how can Scott Parker find the spark this side so clearly needs?

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

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Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

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Burnley registered their second successive draw in the Premier League by holding Everton to a goalless stalemate at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The two points gained in as many matches would be welcome returns for the Clarets, who were on a seven-match losing streak before the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth last week.

But there was a feeling that Scott Parker's side could have salvaged more than a point out of a weakened Everton side against whom they produced 16 shots to generate an xG of 1.65 but without even recording a single shot on target.

The Clarets have struggled offensively this season and their first and only shot on target against the Cherries last week was Armando Broja's 90th-minute equaliser.

Jacob Bruun Larsen failed to slot past Jordan Pickford after going one-on-one with the Everton goalkeeper while substitute Zian Flemming hit the woodwork late on but was adjudged offside in the build-up.

Parker's side will hope to turn some of the chances they create into goals when they host Newcastle United at Turf Moor before a trip to Brighton on 3 January.

And with six points separating them and Nottingham Forest, who are 17th, the Clarets will need to start picking up wins sooner rather than later if they are to maintain their top-flight status.

Burnley boss Scott Parker spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's draw to Everton: "I thought we were well worthy of the three points today. We came here understanding what we needed to be and we were every bit of that. The fine margins of what the Premier League is - we didn't put our chances away when we had some real good chances.

"We're frustrated because we were very, very close today to getting the three points and we've not managed to do that. It's a clean sheet, a point and a good performance and that's what encourages me.

On the Bruun Larsen chance: "That was the one. It was a big chance for us, Flem's one at the end as well. I know the linesman has given it offside but I think that would have been marginal. While of course we can be downbeat in terms of the chances and not putting them away, we've created them and took a very good team right to it.

"I don't want to be too critical at this moment in time because I thought we were the dominant team. We showed an endeavour, a will and understood where and what we needed to be - that shows progression for this group.

"A football match is a boxing match. You often find that unless someone has a knockout blow then it gets to the eighth or ninth before it comes alive, and that was probably it today. At the back end we showed a real commitment and endeavour to win the game. Before that it was nip and tuck and both teams jabbing away.

"It's two games now where we have picked up a point and while of course we would have liked more, it's something to build on."

Did you know?

• During this match Burnley attempted 16 shots but failed to register a single one on target, the third time that they've had 15+ shots without a shot on target in a Premier League fixture after games against Liverpool in December 2014 (16) and West Brom in August 2017 (20).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Burnley's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Burnley boss Scott Parker makes three changes from the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth last week.

Armando Broja, who scored the late equaliser against the Cherries, starts along with Bashir Humphreys and Marcus Edwards as Zian Flemming and Jaidon Anthony drop to bench and Joe Worrall misses out.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Laurent, Larsen, Ugochukwu, Edwards, Humphreys, Ekdal, Pires, Cullen, Broja.

Subs: Weiss, Hartman, Anthony, Florentino, Tchaouna, Flemming, Sonne, Tresor, Barnes.

Everton manager David Moyes makes two changes to the side that started the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.

Tyler Dibling is given a rare start but Jack Grealish is missing from the matchday squad entirely while Beto replaces Thierno Barry up front.

Everton XI: Pickford, Keane, Tarkowski, McNeil, Beto, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Dibling, Alcaraz, Garner, Iroegbunam.

Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, Barry, Rohl, Aznou, Welch, Campbell.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (12:30)

• Arsenal v Brighton - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Brentford v Bournemouth

• Burnley v Everton

• Liverpool v Wolves - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• West Ham v Fulham

• Chelsea v Aston Villa (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Burnley got a late goal that earned them a point at Bournemouth, which felt big for their boss Scott Parker - it felt like a few Clarets fans were questioning whether he is the man to keep them in the Premier League.

As I've said before, I've always felt like Burnley were being competitive, even when they were losing games.

This is going to be a close game, too. Everton's problem is that they are missing Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and they might have to settle for a point.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Burnley target a first Premier League win since 26 October against an Everton side who have lost their past two league fixtures.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of Saturday's meeting at Turf Moor (15:00 GMT).

Burnley's first point since October

Burnley avoided equalling the club record run of eight successive Premier League defeats with a creditable draw at Bournemouth last weekend. However, while picking up a first point since 26 October may have provided some welcome relief to supporters, the manner of the result has been Burnley's 2025-26 campaign in microcosm so far.

The Clarets have not won a game since defeating Wolves two months ago, because of an unwanted combination of a lack of creativity in attack in addition to struggles in defence.

Burnley did not record a shot of any kind until the 86th minute at the Vitality Stadium, while Armando Broja's injury-time equaliser was their first, and only, shot on target.

Scott Parker's side simply cannot sustain such paucity in attack with the number of chances they are conceding to opposing teams.

The Clarets have faced the most shots, allowed the most opposition touches in their box and have the highest expected goals tally against of any Premier League side this season. Although Broja's first goal in more than two years will be a boost to manager and player alike, the Albania international has only once scored in back-to-back matches in 87 appearances in the Premier League.

Everton's misfiring attack

Broja next faces an Everton side where he spent an injury-hit season on loan in 2024-25, failing to score in all 11 outings for the Toffees.

Where Burnley and Broja can take comfort is that Everton are experiencing their own problems in front of goal, a season-long search for firepower further undermined by the loss of top scorers Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury Hall to the Africa Cup of Nations and injury respectively.

As a result, David Moyes's men are one of only two sides, along with Brighton, to have failed to score in the past two match rounds.

Meanwhile, Everton average just a point per game across their 10 Premier League matches without Ndiaye in the starting line-up since the start of last season, compared to 1.4 per game when he starts.

The Toffees' problems in attack, however, differ slightly from those of Saturday's hosts. Whereas Burnley are struggling to create chances, Everton are unable to take them, with strikers Beto and Thierno Barry mustering just two Premier League goals in total so far between them.

Image source, BBC Sport

Moyes, though, has a good record against the Clarets. He hasn't lost any of his past six Premier League meetings with them, all as West Ham manager between January 2021 and March 2024, while his last game against Burnley as Toffees manager was in December 2009, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from James Vaughan and Steven Pienaar.

Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton at Turf Moor (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maxime Esteve is on the grass and running. Regarding his availability for Everton, he will have to be assessed closer to the game.

• On Quilindschy Hartman's exclusion from the Bournemouth squad, Parker said that he makes decisions that are the best for the team and the best for Hartman: "We are in constant dialogue."

• Parker said their forthcoming home games are vital: "It needs to be difficult to come to [Turf Moor]. Fans can have a massive impact."

• On giving fans something to get behind: "It's at the forefront of our mind. The determination, the fight, the spirit, the will - it's everything we're trying to do."

• Parker wouldn't be drawn on his precise plans for Everton, but said: "When you're not picking up results, you're constantly trying to work out how we can change things."

• Reflecting on getting a point at Bournemouth: "It was massive. There's a psychological element in there for the group. It made it a little bit easier."

• On Marcus Edwards and difficult decisions: "If there's one person in this squad that can be hugely disappointed at this moment in time, it's Marcus. I've not seen anything in that in terms of his general professionalism around the place."

• Speaking about Mike Tresor: "Mikey has been absolutely superb since the start of this season. He's worked hard and he's in a position now where he's fighting with the rest of the team".

• Parker said that there will be a few meetings this week about transfer window strategy.

Burnley v Everton will be on 95.5, 103.9FM & DAB with Scott Read & David Unsworth.

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Wolves, Burnley and West Ham are hanging precariously on the bottom branches at Christmas.

As we approach the halfway point of the season, what do the ghosts of Christmas past tell us about the relegation battle?

Only four times in 33 Premier League seasons has the side bottom on Christmas Day survived, with the most recent being Wolves in 2022-23.

But with just two points won and a record 16 points from safety, it would take not just a Christmas miracle but a New Year's, Valentine's and Easter one too for bottom side Wolves to survive once again.

Second-bottom Burnley have a fighting chance because almost half the teams in their position at Christmas have stayed up, although the only time that's happened in the past eight seasons was when Eddie Howe led Newcastle to 11th in 2021-22.

West Ham fans have the most reason to be optimistic as the team in 18th has survived in two out of three seasons on average, most recently Nottingham Forest in 2022-23 and Wolves last time out.

The most likely outcome is that one of West Ham, Burnley and Wolves will stay up as that's happened just over half the time, with two teams surviving in 12 of the previous 33 seasons.

The three teams bottom at Christmas have never all survived, while only four times in Premier League history have all three been relegated, although two of those occurred recently, in 2020-21 and 2023-24.

Read more from Chris on what the bottom three's league position at Christmas means for the relegation battle

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Burnley.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

John: Cherries of old. Chances not taken and a team prepared to defend. Reliance on key players who seem to be in safe mode. It needs new life or change. January awaits.

Ant: Absolute madness that we don't win this game. You know what you'll get with Burnley, but our lack of game management is quite frightening. Worrying times ahead with Antoine Semenyo heading out the door in January.

Greg: Burnley were dreadful, but you can't blame the poor result just because they parked the bus. For the majority of the game our play was just too slow and predictable. Set-plays seem to be an issue for us whilst defending and we lack that clinical edge to score goals against teams that set up to defend. Not a great game to watch.

Mick: We have lost our energy and urgency going forward. Thought Alex Scott should have started and let's give Eli Junior Kroupi a chance up front. What we are doing at the moment doesn't work. Once Semenyo goes, I'm not sure where the goals will come from. Our best player by a mile.

Burnley fans

Robert: Great to get a point and put a stop to the rot. Joe Worrall was immense for us at both ends. Many of the players seemed lacking in confidence and definitely time for Jaidon Anthony to spend some time on the bench. Marcus Edwards on the other hand is one of the few players to truly attack the opposition and has to get a starting run in the team.

Alan: Abject. Watching Burnley is like watching a first division team playing Premier opposition in the cup. They occasionally have a puncher's chance, but most times lose. Remove the management team, release players and prepare for the Championship, because there is no fight or spirit in the club.

Carl: I think Marcus Edwards brings something different to Burnley's attack, and if Armando Broja can score more goals this could be a new start for us.

Steven: Not very exciting but a good point. Anthony needs taking out of the team for a while! Do we dare to start believing this might be a turning point?

Chris Wise
BBC MOTD Commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Scott Parker had spoken relentlessly in recent weeks about Burnley falling on the wrong side of the fine margins. They finally found themselves on the right end of those minor differences after earning a late point at Bournemouth.

It wouldn't be wholly unfair to say that they didn't deserve it, as Burnley were defensively more organised and stoic than they have been in recent games. They restricted Bournemouth to half chances, until Josh Laurent's unfortunate slip was fully punished by Antoine Semenyo.

The problem for Burnley though is trying to marry up an attacking threat with a tight defensive unit. Recently, they've been a threat going forward, but they offered next to nothing in that department on Saturday. But that was a sacrifice that Scott Parker was willing to accept in order to address his team's issues in their backline.

What Parker will be grappling with now is trying to find some balance to his Burnley team. They showed at Bournemouth that they can be resolute, and they've showed in other weeks that they are creative enough at the other end.

But the harsh truth of this unforgiving league is that unless Burnley are able to do both, they're going to struggle to exit the bottom three.

Laura Kenyon
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Scott Parker made six changes to the starting line up at Bournemouth.

A major talking point amongst that team news was the omission of Quilindschy Hartman from the squad entirely. The indication in Parker's pre-match interview was this was not an enforced change and, therefore, a pretty damning assessment of recent performance.

It was a bold move by Parke - his squad already depleted through injury and those on Afcon duty.

If a measure of success is ending a run of seven league defeats, then Parker's bold team selection paid off. Whether or not this proves to be a turning point in their bid to stay in the top flight remains to be seen. But what it does reflect is Parker's readiness to make tough decisions amidst that fight.

Pundits Joe Hart and Shay Given join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

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Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

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Heading to the south coast, Scott Parker had admitted that he was feeling "the pressure" of trying to keep Burnley in the English top flight.

Yet with his side clearly shorn of confidence from a dismal run of results, he will hope that Armando Broja's leveller, in a game where they rode their luck, can lay the platform for a turnaround in form.

Up until the closing stages Burnley had fought a largely rearguard action seemingly caught between trying to counter and the fear of getting exposed themselves in defence.

On the only occasion they did push men forward in the opening 45 minutes Laurent was correctly flagged offside prior to his centre being turned in by former home favourite Jaidon Anthony.

While any sense of optimism felt in the Burnley ranks could have been quickly banished had Marcos Senesi not headed a glorious late chance over for the hosts, the Clarets can now at least look forward to festive fixtures at home to Everton and Newcastle with a renewed sense of purpose.

Burnley boss Scott Parker, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Huge pressure on us today, on this young squad. Like I've said over the last few weeks, we have been close on the fine margins.

"There is no denying there was massive pressure on us down to the run we had been on. We needed to stop that, really, so a massive result for us.

"We were really well organised, we denied Bournemouth space, we did that really well. Our reaction after the goal was incredible. We needed fighters today; we needed a spirit about us.

"We are in a fight, I am in a fight, these players are in a fight, and we will be in a fight for the rest of this season. When you are in a fight, you need certain ingredients, and we had that today."

On Armando Broja scoring his first goal for Burnley: "Forwards always base their games on goals.

"Full credit to Armando, he gets the goal, and that is massive for him, and hopefully that is a springboard for him to keep moving in the right direction, which he is doing."

Did you know?

• Burnley didn't manage a shot until the 86th minute (Lucas Pires), their second-longest wait for an attempt in a Premier League match (90th minute v Chelsea in January 2021).

• Armando Broja scored his first Premier League goal for Burnley, his first since October 2023 for Chelsea against Fulham, 810 days ago, ending a run of 39 appearances without scoring in the competition.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Burnley's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies