MY ACCOUNT
Burnley are in an almighty fight for Premier League survival.
With just 10 games left to secure their top-flight status, the Clarets are four points from safety.
Ahead of their huge clash with 17th-placed Everton tonight, we look at whether it will be misery or joy at Turf Moor come the end of the season.
Surpassing expectations
Despite having one of the smallest budgets in the Premier League, Burnley have managed to defy the odds over the past five seasons and maintain their place in the top tier.
Their peak came in the 2017-18 campaign when they finished seventh and qualified for the Europa League qualifying rounds.
The Clarets almost made it to the group stage only to lose out to Olympiacos in the final play-off round, but hopes of a potential European foray are now well and truly over as the battle to stay up intensifies.
Burnley currently sit 19th in the table but they do have three games in hand on Leeds in 16th, as well as two on the other two sides in the bottom three in Norwich and Watford.
Kind fixture list
The Lancashire outfit need to start picking up points if they are to avoid dropping into the Championship and tonight’s clash will likely go a long way to deciding the club’s fate.
If Dyche’s men can pick up three points at Turf Moor, they would reduce the gap to the Toffees to just one point, leapfrog Watford and secure a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the crucial run-in.
Looking at the remaining fixtures for the relegation-threatened teams, Burnley arguably have the easiest run-in with Norwich, Southampton, Wolves, Watford, Aston Villa and Newcastle among the sides they still have to face.
The fact the Clarets take on two of the other sides currently in the bottom three is absolutely massive.
Taking maximum points from those contests, along with three points at home to Everton, would boost their survival hopes immensely.
Toffees’ sticky situation
While Burnley’s run looks appealing, Everton’s is anything but and there is real concern they could be relegated.
After the Turf Moor trip, the Toffees have to play Manchester United, Leicester (twice), Liverpool, Chelsea, Brentford and Arsenal, while the visit of Crystal Palace three days before the season end could be crucial.
Frank Lampard has failed to get a tune out of the Blues since taking charge, losing six of his eight league games in the dugout, and their issues at the back were again on show in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to West Ham.
Forward progress
One thing Everton have is quality in the final third with the likes of Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Demarai Gray to call upon.
If that trio can start clicking, it could be enough to keep them up.
Interestingly, attack is where Burnley have really struggled this season and they boast the second-worst scoring record in the division, with only Norwich (18) scoring less than the club’s 22.
The Clarets have lost their last four matches, failing to net in all of them, and they really need Wout Weghorst, Jay Rodriguez, Maxwel Cornet and Co to step up.
Burnley have the right manager in charge to try and eke out results from now until the end of the season.
If the Clarets are going to stay up, they need to begin firing in front of goal, starting tonight.
