The Chris Beesley talking points after Everton beat Burnley 2-0 to move within one point of seventh place and two of sixth in the Premier League
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Everton celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Burnley at Hill Dickinson Stadium on March 03, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall celebrates after sealing Everton's 2-0 home win over Burnley(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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The cupped ears from James Tarkowski had not been seen since his last-gasp equaliser against Liverpool over 12 months ago to ensure Everton didn’t depart Goodison Park after over 130 years of Merseyside derby combat with a losing record.
Given the maniacal scenes that followed that howitzer with the last kick of the game from a Blues player, both in terms of the captain’s jubilant celebrations with supporters, both young and old, and then the post-match flashpoints that saw four red cards dished out after the final whistle, this first goal since came against a rather more serene backdrop.
Given the way that recent matches have been transpiring at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Evertonians were mightily relieved not just to return to winning ways on home turf, but to enjoy a routine victory.
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Since Nottingham Forest were the last visitors beaten here, there has been the controversy of not being awarded a penalty against Arsenal – a decision that the Premier League retrospectively admitted was wrong; the double sending off against Wolverhampton Wanderers; a shoot-out shambles in the FA Cup exit to Sunderland and another dismissal from a Blues player in the capitulation against Bournemouth.
There was none of that here though as Tarkowski led by example with what he admitted was a long overdue goal, and hopefully more can now follow as despite being a threat in the opposition area, especially from set-pieces, he’s never netted more than three in a campaign.
He and the rest of the defence also kept a first clean sheet since the 1-0 win at Aston Villa in January and first here since the aforementioned triumph against Sean Dyche’s side.
For a long time, it looked like that would be straightforward, but once again Jordan Pickford rose to the occasion in stoppage time, showing that the best goalkeepers are the ones who can go untested for long periods then pull something spectacular out of the bag when required.
Ton up Garner
That first Tarkowski goal of the season was teed up by a pinpoint delivery from James Garner, who is acquiring quite a happy knack of providing such service to his team-mates. The assist marked the occasion for one of the season’s most outstanding performers in a royal blue jersey on what was his 100th start for Everton in all competitions.
The 24-year-old could have got there sooner had it not been for some niggly injuries, particularly to his back, in both the 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons. However, this term not only has he kept himself fit, starting every single game and being on the pitch the entire time apart from the last six minutes of the 2-0 defeat at Chelsea in December when his manager was protecting him the four-times cautioned player from a potential suspension ahead of a yellow card amnesty, he has taken up his game by a couple of levels.
Such stellar displays have meant Garner richly deserved his new contract on improved terms while David Moyes has championed his player for a place in the England squad.
Wherever he’s been called upon, the former Manchester United continues to excel, but it’s in the heart of the action in the engine room where he loves to play.
In that respect, he and Idrissa Gueye are still trying to strike the right balance as central midfield partners again, but here when they were both given licence to roam, they both produced dynamic displays.
Goal Hall
Tarkowski might still be a while off any personal bests when it comes to scoring totals for a season, but with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall netting his sixth goal of the campaign, he has now eclipsed his total of five with Chelsea in 2024/25.
Four of those strikes in his solitary season at Stamford Bridge came in the triumphant UEFA Conference League campaign and none were in the Premier League, highlighting the player’s bit-part role within the west London outfit’s squad.
In making his £25million transfer to Merseyside last August though, Dewsbury-Hall is now one of the main men. So much of Everton’s play goes through him and in many ways he’s the motor in their engine. In terms of knitting the midfield with the attack and providing a goal threat, on face value he’s the natural replacement to Abdoulaye Doucoure.
But while the former Watford man popped up with some crucial strikes for the Blues – including Bournemouth of course – in terms of his polish, Dewsbury-Hall is in a different class.
He gets what it means to be an Everton player, both physically and mentally, but the club haven’t had a forward-thinking midfielder of his ilk for some time now.
Back in 2023/24 he netted a dozen times for Leicester City as they romped to the title in the Championship, so perhaps he’s got a few more in his locker during the run-in?
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