TRUE BLUE ROSS
EVERY KICK, EVERY GOAL, EVERY GAME Barkley feels Goodison glow after horror week
IF THERE was any doubt whether Ross Barkley is still loved, then the past few days proved he is undoubtedly the darling of Goodison Park.
The Everton star began the week being floored in a city centre bar, then ended it with a far more controversial attack when he was compared to a gorilla in a national newspaper.
Even the man in his corner, boss Ronald Koeman, continued to apply pressure by saying he will be sold in the summer if he doesn’t sign a new contract.
On Saturday, he hit back in the best way possible.
As he stood on the advertising boards and lapped up the adulation following Everton’s second goal, he tapped his badge in a clear sign the love is mutual – even if the lure of Champions League football is delaying him from signing a new deal.
“I’m sure he knows how much he is valued at Everton,” said defender Ashley Williams.
“That’s his own business with the club but he knows Everton love him and as players we appreciate how good he is and what will be will be really. “He’s had a bit of a week with his name being in the paper, which is never nice, and there was a really good reception for him and he handled his business well.” ROSS BARKLEY JOEL ROBLES
Madness
Barkley’s effort was given as a Ben Mee own-goal but he also cleared two off his own line in a perfect performance. The home crowd roared him on from the start but it was old hand Phil Jagielka who got the opener as he headed home after Williams flicked a corner on to him in the 49th minute. Some madness from keeper Joel Robles gave Burnley a way back into the game as he needlessly slid in on Sam Vokes, with the Welshman scoring from the spot.
But 19 minutes later Barkley collected the ball on the edge of the area and fired goalwards with his shot deflected in off both Michael Keane and Mee.
Romelu Lukaku secured the game three minutes later as he bullied past Keane to become the first man to score in nine straight home games for Everton since Dixie Dean in 1934.
Burnley, without an away win this season, are still creeping to safety. But after Koeman last week became the latest boss to hail Clarets defender Keane in public, manager Sean Dyche wants it kept in check.
“The press talk openly about players’ contracts, the managers talk openly about situations, whoever that manager may be,” said Dyche.
“It’s just how it is. That’s for the powers that be to decide whether they think it is appropriate or not.” EVERTON (4-3-2-1): Robles 4; Holgate 7, Jagielka 7, Williams 7, Baines 7; (Valencia Gueye 7 46, 6), Schneiderlin 7, Davies 6; BARKLEY 8 (Lookman 90), Mirallas 6 (Barry 76); Lukaku 6. Subs: Stekelenburg, Calvert-Lewin, Pennington, Kenny. UP NEXT: West Ham (a), Premier League, Saturday. BURNLEY (4-4-2): HEATON 7; Lowton 6, Keane 5, Mee 5, Ward 6; Boyd 5, (Westwood Hendrick 7 86), Barton 6, Brady 7; Barnes 6 (Agyei 83), Vokes 7 (Gray 74). Subs: Pope, Flanagan, Defour, Tarkowski. UP NEXT: Manchester United (h), Premier League, Sunday. Referee: Mark Clattenburg 5. YOUR TURN: Which Burnley striker was sent off when they lost 1-0 on their last visit to Everton, in April 2015?