EFL Cup: It’s the Sean Dyche Derby!

Everton vs Burnley

When the draw for the fourth round of the 2023-24 EFL Cup was made, a few fixtures stood out: Manchester United host Newcastle United for one, but the game with the most intrigue is surely Everton vs Burnley, aka The Sean Dyche Derby.

Now the Toffees manager, Dyche is a legend at Burnley having managed the Clarets through their most successful period of recent times. There’s even a pub in the East Lancashire town named after him – The Royal Dyche!

He took the helm at Turf Moor in 2012, succeeding Eddie Howe and, over the next ten years, Dyche led Burnley to two promotions, seven seasons in the Premier League and a trip into Europe in 2018.

But when relegation loomed, he left the club in April 2022; it was the first time in six years the club had even flirted with relegation, so he left with his head held high, as you would expect.

Now Dyche has taken his tactical nous and charismatic leadership style to Everton, a club which has been perilously close to relegation over the past two years, while Burnley are now managed by Vincent Kompany.

The former Manchester City centre-back led the Clarets to the Championship title in his first season in charge but they have found things difficult on their return to the top flight.     

Everton visited West Ham United on Sunday and scrapped out a 1-0 win to earn three vital points which lifted them five points clear of the drop zone, while Burnley slumped to defeat away to Bournemouth and are currently stuck in the drop zone.

Dyche looks like he might have made Everton the new Burnley; upsetting so-called better teams and taking points off them.

But what is the identity of Kompany’s Burnley? This writer, a dyed in the wool Burnley fan, isn’t sure.

Talking Points

Calvert-Lewin adds quality to Everton front line   

Following another lay-off, this time for a facial injury sustained in Everton’s early season defeat to Aston Villa, star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin made a reappearance last week against Liverpool and he starred again as the Toffees eked out a hard earned win away to David Moyes’ Hammers.

It was an emotional day for Everton fans following the passing of former owner Bill Kenwright, and he would have been delighted the way Calvert-Lewin finished off a breakaway move, firing low into the corner to hand the Toffees a 51^st minute winner. 

Calvert-Lewin gives Everton a cutting edge that summer signing Beto failed to do, and now that there is competition for places up front, Dyche has more options from the bench and in his starting line-up.      

The Everton boss has two former Burnley stars in his team, centre-back James Tarkowski and winger Dwight McNeil. Even though the Hammers had well over 60 per cent possession on Sunday the Everton defence, led by Tarkowski, limited the hosts to just two shots on target, while McNeil provides an outlet to take the pressure off when Everton do get the ball.   

Ashley Young was sent off in the Mersey Derby but he’s available after serving his suspension on Sunday and he will be pushing for a start on Wednesday.  

Burnley need to learn quickly 

The Clarets were simply sensational in winning the Championship title last season, but then the club’s owners sanctioned the heaviest spending spree in Burnley’s history over the summer, with around £100 million splashed out on an exciting array of young talent.

But they have fallen to eight defeats in their first ten games which leaves them languishing in the bottom three.  

Burnley’s young guns have had a baptism of fire, facing Manchester City, Spurs, and Aston Villa, as well as Manchester United and Chelsea at home, but they have picked up points on the road and done well in the cup.

They play a quick passing game but have been caught in possession too often and maybe need to go more direct from time to time. The return of star striker Lyle Foster and keeper Aro Muric will strengthen the Clarets at both ends of the pitch.       

History

The head-to-head Everton vs Burnley results have ebbed back and forth and the Toffees have a slight edge with eight wins to seven in the last 16 meetings, with just one draw.

And in terms of recent form Everton have a slight edge too, with three wins and three losses from the last six games, while Burnley have won two and lost four, in all competitions.  

Betting Tip

Both teams are at odds of 36.00 to win the trophy and this is probably the tightest of all the fourth round ties to call, but the SBOTOP EFL Cup 2023 betting odds make Dyche’s current team the favourite to win this game at a price of 2.06, while Burnley are at 2.96 and the draw is at 3.11.

With the shackles of the Premier League off, I think both teams will play an expansive game and I can see plenty of EFL Cup 2023 highlights in this Dyche derby.

 

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