Everton vs Burnley. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance39,328.
Saturday 15 April 2017 07:45, UK
Burnley must work out how to stop Everton's Romelu Lukaku when facing the striker at Goodison Park on Saturday.
In 2017, Lukaku (13 goals from 42 shots) has scored more Premier League goals than opponents Burnley (11 goals from 146 shots).
The Belgian is also outscoring Middlesbrough this season, with his tally of 23 one better than the struggling north-east side.
Everton can leapfrog Arsenal into sixth if they avoid defeat, with Arsenal not playing until Monday when they travel to Boro on Monday Night Football.
Burnley meanwhile are still chasing their first away league win of the season, having drawn four and lost 12 - they are the only side yet to secure three points away from home.
Team news
There are no fresh injury concerns for Everton, while Ashley Williams is set to return from suspension after he was sent off at Manchester United earlier this month.
Everton will remain without Ramiro Funes Mori, Yannick Bolasie, Muhamed Besic (all knee), James McCarthy (hamstring), Seamus Coleman (leg) and Aaron Lennon.
Burnley's Johann Berg Gudmundsson featured in a midweek friendly for Burnley's Under-23s and scored twice, but Sean Dyche is expected to give the midfielder another week before returning to league action.
Steven Defour meanwhile has been passed fit to face the Toffees.
Opta stats
Everton have won both of their previous Premier League home games against Burnley, keeping a clean sheet each time.
Burnley won the reverse fixture 2-1 thanks to Scott Arfield's 90th minute strike. They've not done the league double over Everton since the 1959/60 campaign, when they won the top-flight.
Romelu Lukaku (23 goals) currently has more Premier League goals than Middlesbrough overall (22 goals). The last player to score more goals than an entire team in a Premier League season was Luis Suarez (31 goals) in 2013/14; three more than Norwich City (28 goals).
Romelu Lukaku has scored in all eight of Everton's competitive matches at Goodison Park in 2017; seven Premier League games and one in the FA Cup.
Burnley have won just four points in 16 Premier League away matches this season (W0 D4 L12) - the only team in the top four tiers of English football to have won fewer away from home in league competition this season are Rotherham (1).
Tom Heaton has made the most saves in the Premier League this season (120), while Burnley have allowed their opponents a league-high 573 shots in total.
Everton have scored 26 goals in seven Premier League games at Goodison Park in 2017 - one more than they netted in 18 Premier League home matches in 2016 (25).
Merson's prediction
Everton are playing well at home and Burnley are not the greatest away from Turf Moor.
They have not won a Premier League match on their travels this season and I can't see that changing on Saturday.
Ronald Koeman's side are flying, especially Romelu Lukaku, and I think their winning streak continues.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)
Betting
Everton are considered home bankers at 4/9 with Sky Bet as Burnley go up against odds of 13/2 for the victory, while the draw is priced at 13/2. Odds-on top goalscorer favourite Romelu Lukaku also heads the first goalscorer betting at 5/2, significantly shorter than any of the visitors, with Andre Gray and Ashley Barnes both 9/1 to net first.
