Burnley

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany says he "wouldn't call it a miracle" if the Clarets escape relegation.

Kompany's side are second-bottom of the Premier League, six points adrift of safety with six games left to play, while both Nottingham Forest and Everton - who are both outside the relegation zone - are appealing points deductions.

The Belgian said: "I wouldn't call it a miracle [if Burnley avoid relegation], but it needs wins, it needs points. We're not necessarily able to look forward to any game and pick and choose, say 'this game is the one'. Every game is tough for us.

"But every game offers the opportunity. We don't also look at any game as a game where we can't win.

"What we need is that difference from what we've had this season - if you have a good performance, you have to have three points."

After hosting Brighton on Saturday, Burnley go to Sheffield United, followed by games against Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham and then Forest at Turf Moor on the final day of the season.

Kompany, whose side have only four league victories to their name this term, added: "I look back at the past six games and we could have had in each game a serious claim to have three points, let alone a draw, and you don't reward yourself. That's frustrating.

"It's been fine margins so many times. It's been this type of season where at the beginning I think we found it, talking very early doors, difficult to adapt quickly, but for a while now we've been in every game.

"It's just the frustration, what it's been this season, is after a game to feel like we could have done more.

"What I want to add is that - and that was my frustration probably with my over-reaction at times with the officials as well - there have been times where it's been our own fault, our own mistakes, and sometimes it's not been our fault, and that's unfortunate."

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has described Brighton as "unique opposition" before their Premier League meeting at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The Seagulls shared the points with Kompany's side at Amex Stadium in December.

"Without necessarily being classed as one of the big six teams in this league, they've managed to establish themselves with all the habits of the top teams," Kompany said in his pre-match news conference.

"They force the opposition teams to adapt. For a team like Brighton to demand that even from the bigger teams is pretty exceptional. It doesn't matter if it's the top six against them [or other teams], they have to adapt their game to play against Brighton."

On what he expects the Seagulls' style of play to be like on Saturday, Kompany added: "Usually you can line up in a zonal press, but they will find the positions in between the lines. They will then create overloads and find the free man between the lines.

"If you line up with a man-orientated press, they have movement patterns to create space to go in behind. They have really good control of the tempo of the ball and the angles they need to make to be able retain possession. They have a goalkeeper who is essentially an outfield player and when they lose the ball they recover it as quickly as possible.

"It's not happened overnight, it's taken them years to do that. They are where they are because they've probably had this idea for a long time already."

Vincent Kompany has been speaking to the media to look ahead to Burnley's Premier League game against Brighton on Saturday.

Here are the main headlines from his news conference:

• On his touchline suspension, Kompany said: "Fair enough, I acknowledge that what I said in the moment doesn't reflect what I think of the official. It was too harsh and it's not what I meant. In the moment the emotions got the better of me."

• On how his ban affects Saturday's match: "It's unpleasant but I have full trust in the staff and players. On match day, the most important people are the players and we need to reflect that on the day."

• On opponents Brighton: "They are unique opposition. Without being classed as one of the big six in the league, they've managed to establish themselves with all the habits of the top teams. They force the opposition to adapt and that's exceptional. It's a pretty special situation to be in."

• On Burnley's strategy of recruiting younger players, similarly to Brighton: "The strategy isn't to play younger players. The strategy is a decision made by the club. The balance between performance and being in the development phase - it's a difficult puzzle to solve."

• When asked about Lyle Foster's different role in recent weeks: "I didn't think about the fact he was playing wider. Our players have always been flexible. It's a perception from the outside. If you look at his position in possession, it's the exact same as he's always played. It's a perception thing. Our players have always had to be flexible."

• Dara O'Shea is suspended for the match, but Kompany does not expect any other players to be missing.

• On goalkeeper James Trafford's absence from the past two games: "He's been ill. He's come back now and he looks in good spirits."

Follow Thursday's Premier League news conferences

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has been given a two-match touchline suspension and a £10,000 fine from the FA following misconduct in a match against Chelsea last month.

Kompany will not be on the touchline for the Clarets' Premier League match against Brighton on Saturday, with the second game of his ban suspended until 31 December.

A statement from the Football Association said Kompany "admitted his language and/or behaviour in the 40th minute of the fixture was improper and/or abusive and/or insulting towards a match official and/or questioned the integrity of a match official."

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Burnley and Brighton in the Premier League.

• Burnley have won just one of their last seven Premier League meetings with Brighton (D4 L2), a 3-0 win at the Amex Stadium in February 2022.

• Brighton failed to score in just two of their 41 Premier League games in 2023, netting in a club record 32 consecutive league games last year. In 2024, the Seagulls have failed to score in more different Premier League games than any other side, as they have not scored in six of their 12 games so far.

• Only Manchester City (12) have scored more goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season than Burnley (9), with a league-high 28% of the Clarets’ goals this term coming from distance (9/32).

• Brighton have made 119 changes to their starting XI in the Premier League this season, 33 more than any other side. Their current rate of 3.84 changes per game is the highest in a single campaign in Premier League history.

• Burnley concede an average of 2.2 goals per game in the Premier League with James Trafford in goal this season (62 in 28 games), compared to 1.3 with Arijanet Muric between the sticks (5 in 4).

• Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke has made more ball carries (726) and carried the ball a further distance (7135.5 metres) than any other player in the Premier League this season.

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

It is my fault. I should never have written those comments last week that the great escape was on. It most definitely is not on.

I could copy and paste so many of my observations from this season and they will all equally apply to Saturday's game at Everton. But the one I want to focus on right now is the Dara O'Shea sending off.

That was Burnley's seventh red card of the season, something I am reliably informed is the most by a side in a Premier League season since Aston Villa and Newcastle in 2014-15 (both seven red cards).

There was a time not so long ago when we had seven red cards in 237 Premier League appearances, and none in over 100 games.

I understand this Burnley side is inexperienced and young, but that is a shocking record.

I do not think we are a nasty team, just very naive - and a lot slower than most of the other Premier League sides, often making poor judgements when it comes to tackles quite common.

We used to have so much more about us than we do right now.

With the news of a further points deduction for Everton, we have thrown away such a good chance this season to stay in this league. We could - and should - have been far more competitive than we have been.

Thoughts will inevitably turn to what next season looks like.

Sander Berge is the only clear favourite for a move away from Turf Moor, but we could make some money back on Lyle Foster and Zeki Amdouni.

Given just how hotly contested the Championship has been this season, we have to learn from this campaign's mistakes and get it right again next time.

Natalie Bromley can be found at No Nay Never podcast, external

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

Here are some of your responses:

Everton fans

Roger: Terrible! We were given the game by Burnley, who had 63% possession. We must improve greatly if we are going to have any chance of staying up. Hopefully Dyche can find new players without having to spend large sums.

Russell: Much better. It wasn't pretty, but they got the job done. There seemed to be more aggression and urgency in winning the ball back. We also started to attack in numbers, rather than hoofing it up the pitch to a single attacker. Three very important points for us.

Greg: Dyche will say a win is a win, but I came back on the coach after the match and it was like we had lost. The football is truly awful and if we manage to stay up, and he is here next season, that sort of stuff won't be tolerated. Sam Allardyce played more football than this.

H: It was good to get a win. However, the football we are watching seems to be getting worse every week. I have been watching Everton for 60 years and I can’t remember a team so devoid of ideas and skill.

Burnley fans

Jeff: Yet again we shoot ourselves in the foot. We gifted Everton a goal from nothing. That is the easiest three points they will have all season. Why Foster was played out wide, when we have more wingers in the club, is beyond me. On these showings, there is not a chance of coming back up.

Nigel: Tactically, we failed to combat the classic Sean Dyche set up. We were hopeless when trying to deal with the high press, which directly contributed to the only goal. Yet another defensive error, again induced by the high press, which led to a professional foul and yet another red card, making it doubly difficult to mount a comeback.

Steven: A poor performance but the frustrating thing is Everton were no better. I might be in the minority but get Trafford back in and let him develop! Muric has had a couple of good games and everyone thinks he is the saviour, but he was making mistakes last season so he was going to be no better this season. Let's start planning for next season in these last few games.

Mark: I'm afraid the blame lies on Kompany's shoulders, given the complete lack of effort from the players in the first half of the season. His signings haven't been up to it. If we had stuck with the same players that won the Championship, we would have been fine. Benson must be shaking his head in disbelief.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Everton v Burnley

Brighton v Arsenal

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the defeat: "Let’s not mix everything. The game, in itself, was a game that we approached well. I thought we nearly eliminated all of the threats of Everton.

"We knew we would have to work hard to create chances but, in the moments we got into the right areas, we lacked that spark to turn the game into the win. The game then spiralled out of control.

"There is about £300m to £500m difference between the two squads. The last six games we have been the better team. There have been games where we have had a lot more chances than today, that is the reason why managers say it is important to be good in both boxes."

On Arijanet Muric's error and Dara O'Shea's red card: "It is our own doing. I don't think you need to over-analyse it. The letter of the law says it needs to be a goal-scoring opportunity, but I won’t go into that [criticising refereeing decisions] again.

"I think we played really well again. We just need to keep going. Just because you lose, doesn’t mean you stop with your belief.

"The club is 150-years-old. The season is not over. In our last six games, we could have had six wins."

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley were frustrated not to beat Wolves in midweek, but their defeat at fellow strugglers Everton could prove far more damaging to their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

The Clarets now trail the Toffees by 10 points, while Luton and Brentford also picked up valuable results in their respective battles for survival.

Vincent Kompany's team grew into the game after a tentative start, but David Datro Fofana's first-half header proved to be their only shot on target despite enjoying the lion's share of possession - even after Dara O'Shea's second-half red card for a professional foul on Dwight McNeil.

Ultimately, it was Arijanet Muric's error in first-half stoppage time which proved decisive, the Burnley goalkeeper sending his attempted clearance straight at Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who watched the ball loop into the unguarded net.

The visitors struggled to test Jordan Pickford in the second half, and have now failed to score in 12 of their 32 Premier League games this season - more than any other side.

Victory for Nottingham Forest at Tottenham on Sunday would leave the Clarets nine points adrift of safety with just six matches left to play.

Here are the key facts and figures following Saturday’s game between Everton and Burnley in the Premier League.

• Everton have ended a run of 13 Premier League games without a win (D6 L7) with their first victory in the competition since beating Burnley 2-0 in December 2023.

• Burnley are without a win in their past seven away league games (D2 L5), with the Clarets conceding the opening goal in six of those games.

• Burnley have now lost 21 of their 32 Premier League games this season (W4 D7), only losing more times in a top-flight season in 2009-10 (24 games), 1975-76 (23 games) and 1970-71 (22 games).

• After a run of 18 Premier League games without a goal, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored in successive games for Everton in the competition for the first time since September.

• Burnley’s seven red cards this season is the most by a single side in a Premier League season since Aston Villa and Newcastle in 2014-15 (both seven red cards).

Dominic Calvert-Lewin capitalised on an Arijanet Muric error to score his second goal in as many games and help Everton to a priceless win over fellow strugglers Burnley, whose own survival hopes were dealt a major blow at Goodison Park.

The bizarre goal earned the Toffees their first top-flight win in 14 attempts - since a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on 16 December.

Calvert-Lewin, who ended a run of 23 games without a goal in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Newcastle, opened the scoring at the end of a poor first half, when Muric's attempted clearance struck the Toffees frontman before looping over the Burnley goalkeeper and into the unguarded net.

The striker could have doubled the hosts' advantage early on in the second half but shot straight at Muric after getting the better of Dara O'Shea inside the penalty area.

Burnley's hopes of forging a route back into the game took a turn for the worse when O'Shea lost possession near the halfway line before committing a professional foul on Dwight McNeil, earning the defender a straight red card.

Josh Brownhill's curling effort flew narrowly wide of the far post in a nervy end to the contest but Everton held on to claim three crucial points in their battle for survival.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Everton fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Burnley fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

• Everton v Burnley

• Brighton v Arsenal

All kick-off times BST

Listen to radio commentaries and follow live text updates here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on darts stars Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall, who both support Manchester United.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Tuesday's draw with Newcastle United goes down as a point gained for Everton but that doesn't change the fact that Burnley were the last team they beat in the league, at Turf Moor on 16 December.

Sean Dyche did a job on his old team in that game, but his side did not win any of the 13 league games that have followed and they are under real pressure to put that right here.

The Goodison Park atmosphere has been so important to Everton in the past, but I can see the crowd getting really anxious if they fall a goal behind or things do not go to plan.

It is a huge game for Burnley too, of course. Fair play to the Clarets, whose run of four games unbeaten has given them a chance of avoiding relegation, but if they are going to stay up then they really have to win this game.

It is Everton who I think will take the points though. I cannot back them going off recent form but they are a well-balanced side who usually create a few chances. This time, that might be enough.

Littler's prediction: 1-0

Aspinall's prediction: Burnley have picked up a bit and Everton still haven't won for ages so, based on that, I am going with Burnley. 0-1

See the full list of predictions

I have been in lots of relegation battles. I got relegated in my first year in the Premier League with Manchester City when I was only a teenager. I had to deal with that adversity so I know what it is like.

I do not think people crack or feel anxious in relegation fights, but you know when you are beaten. It is hard to fully motivate yourself as a team to get the desire to go back out there.

In these battles there are always people complaining and there are changes too. Managers are under pressure and fans add pressure as well.

There is no doubt that it is difficult.

There might not be a lot of hope for those teams in the relegation zone at the moment, but those players will still want to be playing in the Premier League next season. So they still have to use this time to shine because they inevitably will want a move back to a top-flight club.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's Premier League fixture between Everton and Burnley.

• This is the third meeting between Everton and Burnley in all competitions this season, with the Toffees winning 3-0 in the EFL Cup and 2-0 in the Premier League so far. The last time they beat a team three times in the same season while keeping a clean sheet each time was in 1995-96 against Blackburn.

• Since the start of last season, all nine of Everton’s Premier League home wins have been to nil. They’ve drawn five and lost 17 of their last 22 at Goodison Park when conceding at least once, since a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace in May 2022.

• Burnley have conceded 30 away Premier League goals this season, their most in a season since 2018-19, when they conceded 36 under Sean Dyche. The Clarets have shipped two or more goals in their last six on the road, last having a longer such run in the competition in their first 11 away games in 2009-10.

• Everton won seven of their first eight home Premier League games under Sean Dyche when they scored the first goal, only conceding one goal in those eight games. However, they have lost their last two when scoring first, losing both games 3-1 to Manchester City and West Ham.

• Amadou Onana has scored in both of Everton’s games against Burnley in all competitions. The last Toffees player to score in three separate games against an opponent in a single season was Romelu Lukaku against Leicester in 2016-17.

• Having beaten his former club Burnley earlier this season in the Premier League, Everton manager Sean Dyche could be the second Toffees manager to complete a double over a former club in a Premier League season, along with Sam Allardyce in 2017-18 against Newcastle United.

• Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin ended an 18-game goalless run in the Premier League with his goal against Newcastle. He last netted in consecutive games in September this season, while he has three in his last five against Burnley

Image source, Getty Images

Vincent Kompany shunned questions about Burnley's finances and insisted he only wants to focus on a huge game against Everton on Saturday.

The Clarets have announced losses of £27.9m for the year ending 31 July 2023 in their latest accounts following relegation at the end of the 2021-22 season.

Burnley sit in 19th in the table and six points from safety with seven games to play and travel to 16th placed Everton who are four points clear of the relegation zone and face another possible point deduction in the coming days.

When asked what the club's losses would mean from a football perspective Kompany said: "You're asking me this - it's a three-game week and in 48 hours we've got one of the most important games of the season.

"What benefit is that to me to start talking to you about the accounts of the club?

"The only thing I can tell you is, do we look worried? Like we've lost control and calmness? We don't.

"Let me focus on the Everton game right now, that's what matters."

Despite being second bottom in the league, Burnley are unbeaten in their last four games.

Kompany, who led Burnley back to the Premier League in his first season in charge, was asked about possible relegation by reporters and said: "We're not going to talk about that right now.

"I've told you many times since January, those are the discussions we have mid-season and the beginning of the season. Not when we have seven games left and everything to play for.

"The only thing I will try to convey as a message is it's a scenario the club has known in the past and it's a club that hasn't panicked in those moments. So why all of a sudden why should we? Do we have to portray a crisis just because that's what you're supposed to look like?"

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Vincent Kompany has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Everton.

Here are the key lines from the Burnley boss:

• There are no new injury concerns following Tuesday's draw with Wolves and "everyone is ready to go".

• On picking up two points from the past two games: "Winning gives us a better perspective than losing, but we are at the stage of the season where we still have everything to fight for and that is all that matters."

• Kompany said his mindset is "to win as many games as possible" and avoid working out possible outcomes "because you can very easily overcomplicate it with maths".

• On opponents Everton, who are also in the relegation battle: "There is no such thing as an easy game for us. We just have to prepare well and be aware of their strengths. We need to exploit the opportunities that they give us."

• He said his comments on the standard of refereeing, for which he has been charged by the Football Association for misconduct, "was an objective assessment" and "there are ways to make it constructive" to improve the game.

• On whether he will submit a response to the FA by Friday's deadline of 18:00 BST: "It's really far from my mind at the moment. I will dive into it once I’ve finished preparing for this game and I will have a few chats internally with the club. But what is done is done."

• He said he "will share in the future" his thoughts on ways to improve officiating in the Premier League because "it is for the benefit of the game."

• On Dara O'Shea's goal contributions this season: "There’s an element of design to it, but in the end it is always down to the player's intuition and desire. He always had that in his game but to do it at Premier League level is remarkable."

Listen to live commentary of Everton v Burnley on BBC Radio 5 Live on Saturday from 15:00 BST

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from this midweek's Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.