Rafa: We need results despite limited budget

RAFA BENITEZ insists he remains under the same pressure to produce results despite having started his reign as Everton manager with financial constraints. Benitez has made his mark in the opening weeks of the campaign, making Everton more difficult to beat and adding energy to their play. They are unbeaten in three matches and will aim to extend that sequence against Burnley this evening at Goodison Park. Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s major shareholder, has never failed to back his managers and has invested more than £500million since he has been at the helm but Benitez has not been able to spend as Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva and Carlo Ancelotti did before him. The Spaniard made a number of experienced free transfers during the window, such as Andros Townsend and Salomon Rondon, while Demarai Gray at £1.25m was his biggest acquisition. Everton have been impacted by Financial Fair Play rules and need to trim their wage bill. But even though Benitez has been constricted, he says there will be no difference in the expectation to get results for Moshiri. ‘My life as a manager has normally been with teams where we did not have too much money and we had to sell players to bring in players,’ said Benitez. ‘As I have said before, we are lucky to have owners who want to spend money and we have to find a way to do it properly. ‘They know we are working really hard to improve the players, improve every individual player and the team. The fans know and appreciate that. They know how the team finished last year and can see the difference in commitment and style of football. Everything is about improving what we have. At the same time, we cannot talk about that in three months if we do not perform.’ EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Godfrey, Keane, Holgate, Digne; Allan, Doucoure; Gray, Richarlison, Townsend; Calvert-Lewin. BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Brownhill, Westwood, Cork, McNeill; Wood, Barnes.

Referee: Andre Marriner.