Everton were punished for their failure to put the ball in the net as Burnley snatched a late 2-1 victory at Turf Moor.
The Clarets scored from two rare attacking moves, both against the run of play, with the winner coming in the final minute through Scott Arfield's well-taken strike.
Sam Vokes had earlier tapped his side ahead from close range, before seeing that opener cancelled out by Yannick Bolasie just short of the hour mark, but it was the hosts who would have the final laugh.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Burnley and Everton at Turf Moor. The Clarets have looked solid on home soil this season, albeit having come undone a few times to late goals conceded, making this a difficult challenge for the visiting Toffees. A place in the top four is their potential reward with victory today, while the hosts will be hoping to put further distance between themselves and the bottom three.
Everton also boast a decent return in this fixture in recent times, winning each of the last three, but it must be remembered that Burnley did beat fellow Merseyside outfit Liverpool not so long ago to get their Premier League return to Turf Moor off to a winning start. Their form has been far from consistent since then, though it took Arsenal a late, late goal to pick up the win here earlier this month and Watford also came unstuck prior to that.
TEAM NEWS!
BURNLEY XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Kightly, Hendrick, Arfield, Marney, Gudmundsson; Vokes
EVERTON XI: Stekelenburg; Oviedo, Jagielka, Williams, Coleman; Gana, Barry; Mirallas, Barkley, Bolasie; Lukaku
Starting with the visiting side, then, and boss Ronald Koeman has made two changes to the side that held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium last weekend. Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas both return to the starting fold, taking the place of Gerard Deulofeu and Tom Cleverley. The inclusion of the Englishman in particular is a big call from Koeman, who admitted earlier this week that he hoped his omission against City would act as a "wake-up call".
Leighton Baines is still absent following a setback from his recovery from a hamstring injury, which has seen him sidelined for more than a month now. Aaron Lennon has overcome an injury problem of his own but is only deemed worthy of a place on the bench, with the back four remaining unchanged from last Saturday's impressive result at The Etihad - Seamus Coleman and Bryan Oviedo flanking the ever reliable Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka.
Gareth Barry continues to hold down a starting spot in the engine room, alongside one of the signings of the summer in Idrissa Gueye. Romelu Lukaku, with six goals in his last five Premier League appearances, will be offered support by a three-man attacking midfield which includes those two returning players - Mirallas and Barkley - as well as Yannick Bolasie who has proved to be a shrewd capture so far thanks to his numerous assists.
Burnley have also made two changes from their last outing, as Michael Kightly and Scott Arfield have been brought in for Steven Defour and George Boyd. Both players miss out due to injury - the former a particular blow in the midfield engine room due to a hamstring injury picked up in the first half of the defeat against Southampton, while the latter's running in the attacking third will also be greatly missed.
Sean Dyche may have been tempted to go with two up top this afternoon following such an abject showing at St Mary's last time out, but he has stuck with just the one in attack - Sam Vokes, who found the net from the penalty spot in that 3-1 reverse but has now gone seven without a goal from open play since helping to down Liverpool here. There is still no Andre Gray to partner him, as he serves the last of a five-match ban, but Patrick Bamford is fit and available.
Vokes's lack of goals is no particularly his fault, with just one chance created for him on his return to his place of birth last weekend. It is once again a packed Burnley midfield, with Jeff Hendrick, Dean Marney, Scott Arfield, Michael Kightly and Johann Berg Gudmundsson all bringing something slightly different, but only one or two of them seem to be able to really get at the opposition defence.
BENCH WATCH!
BURNLEY SUBS: Flanagan, Long, O'Neill, Bamford, Robinson, Tarkowski, Darikwa
EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Deulofeu, Lennon, Cleverley, Valencia, Funes Mori, Holgate
Jon Flanagan may well be regretting his decision to choose Turf Moor as his loan destination, missing out once again this afternoon and therefore finding himself stuck on just the one appearance all season - that coming in a EFL Cup defeat to Accrington Stanley last month. Patrick Bamford was tipped to start today's match alongside Vokes up top, but he is also struggling for playing time as Dyche makes his only two changes - both enforced - in midfield.
As for Everton, they have Aaron Lennon back among the subs following his recent struggle with injury, while Tom Cleverley is among those to drop down to the bench from last time out - Koeman instead favouring the more powerful Barkley in midfield to really get at the Clarets, it seems. Deulofeu is the other to miss out, while Enner Valencia also provides a further attacking option should the visitors require a goal in the closing 30 minutes or so.
Two changes apiece for either side today, then, although in Burnley's case they have both been forced on manager Sean Dyche. Steven Defour and George Boyd are both big misses, particularly the former in the engine room, while Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas are both brought back into the Everton starting lineup for this trip to Lancashire.
So a chance this afternoon for the Clarets to build on what has been a solid enough start to the season, as they aim to put some more points between themselves and the bottom three. That gap currently stands at just the one point heading into this weekend's fixtures, albeit with three other teams between them and the drop zone, meaning that they are very much on course to achieving their target with a quarter of the campaign nearly gone.
Dyche's men have been reliant on their home form since returning to the top flight, though, having failed to pick up a point on their travels thus far and scoring just the one goal - a Vokes penalty against Southampton from the penalty spot six days ago. They have not looked threatening whatsoever, either, even when taking on lower-league Accrington in that EFL Cup defeat last month - a result which left supporters very frustrated at a lack of any real ambition to progress in the cup.
Burnley have not exactly been free-flowing at home in terms of goals, scoring just six all season which only bottom-placed Sunderland can match. That defeat to Southampton made it back-to-back losses for the first time this season, as they now become accustomed to life back in the top tier and the realisation that they will no longer rack up wins on a constant basis. The Clarets are no strangers to the Premier League, of course, and they know that improvement is needed.
The Clarets have been hugely unfortunate at times this term, though, conceding fairly late on to Swansea City in their opening game here, before also seeing Robert Snodgrass fine the net five minutes into added time to earn Hull City a couple of weeks later. There was also that contentious Laurent Koscielny goal prior to the international break, again coming deep into added time to deny the Clarets what would have been a huge result, but they have beaten both Watford and, more impressively, Liverpool here to remain afloat.
In terms of the Clarets' upcoming fixtures, it is fair to say that things could have been easier. Meetings with Manchester's City and United follow in the next month, but they also take on Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace - two of them, including today's game against the Toffees, on home soil - so there is a chance to keep the points ticking over as we head into the second quarter of the campaign.
As well as struggling to score goals, Burnley have also shipped far too easily when it comes to set-pieces - conceding three of their last four goals from corner kicks. The defence was also pulled apart to readily at times against Southampton last time out, with the Saints bombarding the Clarets' goal with attempts all afternoon to take Tom Heaton's save tally to 39 for the season - more than any other keeper in the top flight.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Everton have won each of the last three meetings between these two sides, the last of which came on April 2015 when Kevin Mirallas - back in the starting lineup today - scored the only goal at Goodison Park. Wade Elliott was on target for Burnley in their solitary triumph over the Toffees in the Premier League, that coming in August 2009 in the early days of their top-flight voyage.
Sean Dyche will be happy enough to have seen his side pick up seven points from eight games, although their failure to cause any sort of threat away from home is a concern. That puts even more pressure on home games such as today's, with the Clarets knowing that defeat - and unfavourable results elsewhere - could well seem them drop into the bottom three come the end of the weekend.
As for Everton, they are in a positive position as things stand - sitting sixth in the Premier League table after claiming 15 points from their first eight games under Koeman. It has been a bright start to the new regime, both on and off the field, with just one defeat from those opening set of fixtures - that coming away to Bournemouth and quickly followed up by another disappointing result as they were held by Crystal Palace.
That minor blip aside, though, coming in the week leading up to the international break, it has been a fine start to life on Merseyside for Koeman and his backroom staff. The point at City last weekend may have been a tad fortunate, with the hosts missing two penalties - or, more specifically, Maarten Stekelenburg saving both spot-kicks - but the Toffees still adapted their formation well to frustrate their opponents and then score a goal from nowhere thanks to Lukaku's brilliance.
Everton now face Burnley, West Ham United, Swansea City and Southampton, as well as a more daunting trip to Chelsea, in their next five outings - a chance to keep the points ticking over as they looking to maintain this push for a top-four finish. Spurs have already been held to a goalless draw by Bournemouth this afternoon, so all of a sudden a win today and Toffees supporters may well be tempted to put a few pound on their side going all the way and lifting the title!
On the subject of Koeman, no Everton manager has ever won more points from their first eight league fixtures than the Dutchman. A word of warning, though - Roberto Martinez also accrued 15 points in the same number of outings, before soon falling out of favour with supporters over the following two seasons. The Merseyside outfit have also shipped just six goals in that timeframe - only Spurs can boast a better record, which improved further this afternoon with that stalemate at Bournemouth.
DID YOU KNOW? Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has scored six goals in his last five Premier League outings, following a previous run of 11 without a goal stretching from the tail end of last season into this one. Summer signing Yannick Bolasie, whose price tag raised a few eyebrows, has set up three of those for the Belgian - a joint-league high for one player assisting another in the top flight this term.
With kickoff at Turf Moor now less than 10 minutes away, let us quickly turn attention to some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Sean Dyche: "I think there is pressure on us regardless of whether we are home or away. But there is also a reality to what we are and the market we're in. Our fans know that but they also know we give everything to the cause, and I think that has been evident."
Ronald Koeman: "We haven't conceded more than one [goal] every game but we need to create more in matches and also need to score more goals. The players around [Romelu] Lukaku need to show more productivity."
Koeman admitting that his side are perhaps becoming too reliant on Lukaku to break teams down, with others needing to chip in with goals. The Dutchman has brought back Barkley this afternoon, having also claimed in his pre-match press conference that the midfielder's absence against Man City - a game he would have loved to have started - was perhaps a "wake-up call". That is the second time he has said something along those lines already this season - will it have the desired effect?
Dyche claims that there is "pressure" on his side to pick up points at home, meanwhile, which is hard to disagree with on the basis of their away form thus far. Clarets fans may be a tad disappointed to see their manager go with just the one up top yet again today, with Bamford raring to go on the bench, but Dyche has certainly earned an impressive reputation during his time at Lancashire and must be respected for his team selections.
Ronald Koeman will be delighted by the start he has made to life on Merseyside, having taken 15 points from the Toffees' first eight games this season - a tally that only one other manager can match in Everton's illustrious league history. Another win for his side this afternoon and they could well break into the top four, depending on how results pan out elsewhere. Kickoff at Turf Moor now just moments away!
KICKOFF! Everton, the big favourites this afternoon - much like neighbours Liverpool who themselves lost here at the start of the season - get us under way at Turf Moor. Burnley looking to keep things tight but knowing that they need to create openings of their own to keep supporters on their side.
SAVE! Just two minutes on the clock before Heaton, the most tested keeper this season in terms of shots saved, was called into action for the first time. Bolasie scuffed the ball into the box at the end of a positive run, but two Burnley players got in each other's way and Mirallas fired in a shot for the England back-up stopper to turn aside.
There were a few groans around Turf Moor following that Mirallas strike, as supporters know their backline cannot afford to collapse as easily as they did. Everton in behind a few times inside the opening five minutes - a real bright start for the visitors.
Mirallas sees his shot blocked away inside the box, but Bolasie was well positioned to have a crack from the rebound. It was an audacious attempt; the former Palace man sending an overhead kick wide of the target from around 18 yards out.
SHOT! Arfield, with a chance to nail down a starting spot with a bright display today, fires wide via a deflection to earn his side a corner. The ball comes in and Kightly is unmarked towards the back post, but can only send the ball over the bar from what was a decent chance.
Things have quietened down a little now following a fairly frantic spell to the match. Everton had that decent chance just two minutes in, with Mirallas being denied by Heaton, while Kightly blasted over his side's best opening a few moments ago.
Burnley far more in the game now after what was an ominous start; their defence completely falling apart in the opening three or four minutes as the Toffees continued to get in behind. All about that midfield battle now, with both sides going with five men in that area.
SAVE! Lukaku has time and space to take a touch 22 yards out and fire away on goal, but Heaton - as ever - is across to push the ball aside. Keane was across well to get to the rebound first, though the flag had already gone up for offside.
SAVE! Stop number three from Heaton inside the opening quarter of the match, in what is proving to be another testing afternoon for him. This latest save came from a Ross Barkley shot, which the Englishman perhaps could have done a little more with.
YELLOW CARD! First caution of the afternoon is shown to Arfield following his challenge on Coleman. Everton dominating the chances here but unable to find a way past one of the Premier League's players of the season so far in Tom Heaton.
Everton turn to short passing in the final third in an attempt to find a way through, but there is little movement off the ball and in the end the attack comes to nothing. The Toffees had better luck when simply going more direct towards Lukaku.
SAVE! Burnley have their first attempt on target afternoon, with Vokes's effort from the edge of the box simple enough for Stekelenburg to take in his stride. Better from the Clarets, who are now more involved in the game.
YELLOW CARD! Burnley allowing Everton to get in behind their full-backs far too easily - this latest cross making its way to Mirallas who saw his shot brilliantly blocked from close range. The Clarets quickly countered and Gueye saw yellow for pulling back on Afield.
Everton win a free kick which Barry sends towards the back-post area. Williams was there waiting to glance the ball, but he was all over Lowton and referee Mike Jones rightly awarded the hosts a free kick. Still awaiting the breakthrough goal in Lancashire.
Not a great deal going on at the moment, but it is Everton who remain in control of the match. The Toffees have had four shots on goal in the opening third of this contest, each of which Heaton has managed to keep out.
You have to wonder whether Burnley will take a point from this game, against a strong Everton side. A draw would not be disastrous but, with Man City and Man United to come in the next few weeks, Dyche will surely want all three points.
Superb play from Everton - and once again it comes when they go direct. Lukaku got on the end of a punt forward after making the most of Mee's bad positioning, but the centre-back recovered well in fairness to him and got a boot to the ball.
YELLOW CARD! Mee looks to be in a little discomfort, perhaps as a result of that well-timed lunge on Lukaku. Seems OK to continue for the time being, as Hendrick becomes the latest to pick up a soft yellow for a challenge on Gueye.
Arfield makes contact with Barry with a late challenge, which forces the referee to give him one final warning. He is already on a yellow, remember, so that was a silly and needless challenge which on this occasion went unpunished.
Oviedo gets his head to the ball under pressure as Burnley put their opponents under some sustained pressure. Approaching the halfway mark now and, while Everton have had some good chances, it remains all square and a tough one to call.
GOAL! BURNLEY 1-0 EVERTON (SAM VOKES)
Stekelenburg was the hero last weekend, but he is very much to blame for this opening Burnley goal. Gudmundsson created it with a superb touch in midfield, allowing Arfield to drive at the Everton defence. The subsequent shot was poor and looked to be drifting wide, but the Everton keeper decided to get a touch on the ball and helped it into the path of Vokes, who had the simplest of finishes.
Everton dominated the chances but Heaton, yet again, proved to be the hero and from that Burnley have edged ahead. Dyche's men must now hold on for another big home scalp, with Koeman perhaps thinking of a half-time change at Turf Moor.
Hendrick left a little dazed after being clattered by teammate Mee. Burnley just need to see out the remaining 60 seconds or so of this first half for a lead that is not exactly deserved, but one that they will certainly take.
HALF TIME: BURNLEY 1-0 EVERTON
Everton go into the break a goal down against Burnley, courtesy of Sam Vokes's tap-in 39 minutes into the match here at Turf Moor. The Toffees had plenty of chances in the early stages of the match, all of which Tom Heaton kept out, and the Toffees then pounced against the run of play to edge themselves ahead with half of the match now left to play.
Tom Heaton, the division's most tested keeper in terms of saves made heading into this weekend, must have been fearing the worst when he was called into action less than two minutes into the game. A breakdown in communication at the back allowed Kevin Mirallas, back in the starting lineup alongside Ross Barkley today, to blast away a shot which Heaton managed to turn aside.
Everton were seeing plenty of the ball and getting in behind their opponents' backline on a regular basis, but their early efforts almost came undone when Michael Kightly fired over an awkward attempt from a rare Burnley attack. It was then time for Heaton to keep his side in the match, producing two more fine saves to frustrate the Toffees - keeping out Romelu Lukaku's long-range drive and Barkley's powerful shot from inside the box.
Those Everton openings all arrived with with less than a quarter of the match played, and they then struggled to really create any more opportunities in the half as Burnley grew more and more into things. Sam Vokes was the first to test Maarten Stekelenburg with one tame attempt from the edge of the box, but his next shot would make a far more telling difference on the game. A fine flick from Johann Berg Gudmundsson in midfield allowed Scott Arfield to drive at the visitors' backline, before firing away a weak shot that appeared to be heading wide of the goal. Stekelenburg was willing to take no chances and pushed the ball right into the path of Vokes, who had the simple task of tapping in his third goal of the season.
So a real strong opening 25 minutes or so from Everton, who had three shots on target, but they struggled from that point on as Burnley wrestled back control and edged ahead - albeit against the run of play. Will either manager make a change at the break? Let us remind ourselves of both teams' benches.
BURNLEY SUBS: Flanagan, Long, O'Neill, Bamford, Robinson, Tarkowski, Darikwa
EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Deulofeu, Lennon, Cleverley, Valencia, Funes Mori, Holgate
RESTART! We are back under way at Turf Moor, where Everton are looking to turn around a one-goal deficit against Burnley. No changes made by either manager the interval, with Koeman presumably waiting until the hour mark before turning to his bench.
SAVE! Much like in the first half, Everton start bright and test Heaton early on. Barkley was picked out around 30 yards from goal, taking a touch and looking for the bottom corner only for Heaton to get down in a routine enough manner.
The visitors, predictably, dominating possession in the early throes of the second half. Burnley supporters will not want to see their side sit back in this manner for the next 40 minutes, as Barkley is told to get up after falling down in the box.
A good battle between Mee and Williams, which the Everton man comes out on top in - just about. A corner for Burnley, who are now getting bodies forward to restrict the Toffees' pressure up the other end of the field.
That Everton pressure just beginning to build now, as a shot from Mirallas takes a deflection and drops into the hands of Heaton. Koeman surely thinking about a change around about now, with his side unable to truly carve the visitors open - long shots only.
Well for the first time in a while Everton do carve their opponents open, with Gueye playing a superb ball into the path of Mirallas down the left. Lukaku was alone and waiting to tap it in at the back post, only for the ball to have too much pace on it.
Still we await that first Everton change, despite Koeman cutting a frustrated figure down on the touchline. Everton are dominating the match in terms of possession in dangerous areas, but they cannot find that killer final ball at the moment.
GOAL! BURNLEY 1-1 EVERTON (YANNICK BOLASIE)
Everton are level at Turf Moor thanks to Yannick Bolasie's first goal for the club. The move started from a smart Barry pass, as he picked out Lukaku's run around the back. Bolasie incredibly took the ball off his teammate knowing that he could use his pace, before driving the ball right through Heaton and into the net.
Arfield with another silly challenge, which Mike Jones again decides not to punish. Dyche will be looking to make a change now with more than an hour played, and the already-booked midfielder will surely be high on the list to come off.
Burnley having to do so much defending at the moment but, much like in the first half, they will not be all that concerned as Everton are not exactly creating chances at will. Lowton's final ball lets him down as the Clarets put together a move of their own.
Superb defending from Keane, as he gets the smallest of touches on Coleman's cross with Lukaku waiting to pounce. It looked for all the world as though the Belgian was going to bury it, but that touch took it over his foot.
Constant pressure from the Toffees, who really should be ahead in this match. Still 22 minutes left to play at Turf Moor, with neither manager yet to turn to their benches - more surprising in Everton's case due to the quality of their options.
Lowton's cross was so bad that it did not even make it out of play, instead making its way towards the touchline before being kept in. Everton recycling possession constantly but struggling to create any openings since that Bolasie leveller.
Some nice passing on the edge of the opposition box ends with Lukaku laying the ball off for Gueye to blast into two Burnley defenders. Keane and Mee really earning their money this afternoon, but there is still around 20 minutes to go.
Great cross into the box from Bolasie, which Mirallas gets on the end of. He perhaps should have gone for goal himself from the tight angle, but instead looked to pick out Lukaku. Heaton was there first and the opportunity went begging.
BURNLEY SUB! The first chance of the afternoon arrives with less than 15 minutes to play, as James Tarkowski is introduced for just a second Premier League appearance. Michael Kightly is the man to make way.
Bolasie has been superb today. The tricky winger sends in another dangerous cross which Heaton gets a touch to before Lukaku could head into an empty net. Two massive interceptions from Burnley now in the last 10 minutes.
EVERTON SUB! Mirallas makes way for Deulofeu for these final 10 minutes or so. More energy and pace in the final third of the pitch now to compliment Bolasie, yet time is fast running out for the Toffees now.
SAVES! Gueye sends another shot down the middle for Heaton to collect - Everton's first on-target attempt since levelling things up. The next attempt followed moments later via the boot of Bolasie, who cut in from the left and sent a shot under the bar for Heaton to help over.
SUBS! A change apiece now as we enter the final stages of the match at Turf Moor - Cleverley on for Gueye and Flanagan on for Ward in a rare run-out for the Burnley full-back. Everton continuing to ask all the questions here.
Burnley have struggled to create anything in this second half, instead being made to purely repel Everton's constant waves of attack. A third 1-1 draw in succession awaits for the Toffees, as we enter the final four minutes in Lancashire.
Barkley's shot falls into the path of Lukaku, but he cannot get the ball out of his feet quickly enough and Burnley clear. The Clarets really have got their backs against the wall now, desperate to hear that full-time whistle. Dyche looking to use his final change.
BURNLEY SUB! Goalscorer Sam Vokes is taken off to eat up more time, replaced by Patrick Bamford. Around four minutes expected to be added on at Turf Moor, with Everton the team asking all the questions in this second half.
GOAL! BURNLEY 2-1 EVERTON (SCOTT ARFIELD)
WOW! Gudmundsson sent in a super shot from range - near enough Burnley's first since scoring through Vokes in the first half - which crashes back off the crossbar. Arfield got to the ball first and placed it superbly past Stekelenburg to earn his side all three points against the run of play what a finish!
FULL TIME: BURNLEY 2-1 EVERTON
Unbelievable drama at Turf Moor! Everton, so dominate for much of the game and coming so close to a late winner, were themselves undone by Scott Arfield's dramatic strike in the final minute. It just goes to show that if you fail to take your chances you will likely be punished, proved in the cruellest of manners here by the Clarets.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Turf Moor. An on-the-whistle match report can be found by clicking here, while updates from the late Premier League kickoff between Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion is available here. Enjoy!
