Burnley v Everton FC: three key questionsBy David Triggs
The big talking points before the Blues' trip to Turf Moor
How will the defence shape up?
Roberto Martinez has juggled his resources well this week, with Everton keeping back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season - despite fielding different centre-back combinations against Aston Villa and Lille.
So who will get the nod at Burnley?Antolin Alcaraz had one of his best games in royal blue in the 3-0 win over Aston Villa, a fact which did not escape Howard Kendall. While most of the post-match talk was about Ross Barkley’s return from injury, Kendall preferred to focus on the Paraguayan, a player whose debut campaign at Goodison was marred by a succession of injury problems and a disastrous own goal in a key defeat at Southampton in April.
“He looked comfortable,” said the former Blues manager after the Villa stroll. “He was part of a very good performance and a much needed clean sheet. Now he will hope to reproduce that form over a prolonged period.”
The Opta stats show Alcaraz was relatively untroubled against Paul Lambert’s men, his first Premier League appearance of the season (his only other start was at Swansea in the Capital One Cup). The 32-year-old made (and won) one tackle, swept up seven clearances and won just 25% of his aerial duels. He was good on the ball, making 77 passes, finding his target with 96% of them.
The question for Martinez at Turf Moor will surely be whether to recall Alcaraz or stick with Sylvain Distin, who barely put a foot wrong when partnering skipper Phil Jagielka in Thursday’s 0-0 Europa League draw with Lille.
Everton’s tried-and-tested partnership from recent seasons looked assured against the Ligue 1 side, but Alcaraz’s fitness and form gives Martinez a selection poser.
He could opt to rest Jagielka, of course. Or maybe the Blues boss will surprise us all and play a 5-3-2 formation - meaning all three centre-backs start. Unlikely, but you never know…
Is it time to rest Ross?
What a week it’s been for Ross Barkley. The 20-year-old made an earlier-than-expected comeback against Aston Villa, reigniting Everton’s attack in the process, and also made his European debut for the club.
Barkley has played a total of 160 minutes this week - his first competitive action since England’s 0-0 draw with Costa Rica at the World Cup - and the question now is whether he is ready for a third start in eight days. After so long out, Martinez might well err on the side of caution.
He rested top scorer Steven Naismith and Leon Osman for the trip to Lille and both will surely play a part against the Clarets, with the Scot a likely replacement for Barkley.
The England midfielder was at his turbo-charged best against Villa, earning a surprise call-up on the back of some stellar performances in training last week which convinced Martinez he was fully over the ligament injury which had kept him sidelined since August.
But on Lille’s heavy, uneven pitch on Thursday, Barkley was less effective - and despite seeing out the 90 minutes (before being replaced by James McCarthy in injury time) this Sunday could be the time for Martinez to wrap a protective layer of cotton wool around Everton’s prized asset.
How will Burnley deal with Coleman and Baines?
They say the greatest form of defence is attack. And Everton’s defenders certainly like to attack.
Stats show that 24.3% of the Blues’ goals since the start of last season came from defenders - the highest figure in the Premier League.
Most of that forward-thinking threat comes from full-backs Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman (who was rested in Lille), illustrated perfectly in the 3-0 win over Villa when the England left-back crossed for the Irish right-back to score the third and final goal of the afternoon.
Baines has helped himself to seven assists and two goals in 11 appearances this season, while Coleman’s injury-hit campaign has seen him grab three goals and one assist from just four Premier League starts and one Europa League appearance.
They are hardly Everton’s secret weapon by now. But they will present Clarets boss Sean Dyche with an additional tactical headache as he sets up his side to face the Blues.
Right-back Kieran Trippier will need winger Michael Kightly to remain vigilant, while the same applies on the other side of the pitch for Ben Mee and George Boyd.
If the players in wide positions for Burnley switch off for a second, then Coleman and/or Baines can cash in.
Echo
