premier-league-2021-22-game-week-4-live-updates-results-matches

Football, huh? Bloody hell.

After what was an utterly boring and uneventful 45 minutes, the second half pops up and gives us four goals, one disallowed goal and so many many many entertaining moments. Plus, and how can we forget, one absolutely stunning strike from Andros Townsend.

I'm in absolute awe of the way this man turns up, at least once per season to score what can only be described as a goddamn belter. A goal of the season contender, once every season so very very consistently which is just majestic.

It made up for that first half, that I can say for sure. But unfortunately, that also means that this is the end of the weekend and Gameweek four but don't worry we've got more football around the corner. Until then, this is goodnight, goodbye and arrivederci.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche: "A poor reaction to us scoring. We let them creep into the game and then a mad six minutes follow. You have to make things happen. I think it is a really good away performance until they score. We were waiting for it to happen.

"My big feeling is we are way wiser than that six minutes. That is something we have to learn from. The crowd were almost jeering at times, they were on the edge. I am very frustrated with that period.

"My personal view is the game is in a good place. I think the game is getting back to a good state with good physicality."

Burnley's Ben Mee: "A mad 10 minutes or so, the crowd got up and it becomes a difficult game. We have to control it better at 1-0 up. It was disappointing to concede the first goal.

"It has kept in a bit this season, going 1-0 up then not capitalise on it or building on it. We have to move on and we will. We have to bounce back on Saturday.

"The first half we were in control, I should have scored, but at 1-0 we back ourselves to defend well. The first goal leads to the uplift and tempo and it got away from us."

Everton boss Rafael Benitez: "It was a good game, very physical. It was not easy but overall we were ok. When we scored our goal, we had more confidence, played 4-3-3, created more chances and could have scored more goals.

"Really pleased with the connection between the team and the fans. We are looking to build a fortress here. Both Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend have quality and are good pros. They are keen to learn, even Andros at his age.

"The main thing in this team, everyone said we needed wingers. Today Richarlison did a great job also and the two wingers helped the striker do better. Dominic Calvert-Lewin broke his toe, was playing with pain, now he has a problem with his quads and we have to see."

On James Rodriguez: "It doesn't change too much, we are talking about strikers and wingers. Nobody can argue about the quality of James but he is behind the others."

Everton's Andros Townsend: "It was and I have waiting of that one. Great to have the fans and hear them in full voice. Every now and then I like to produce a good goal but I am working to get ugly ones too.

"My mum is always sending me compilations of all my goals, told me to watch it when I can and maybe I reminded myself I can do it and pulled it out.

"We did not get close to Burnley in the first half, we were not giving Richarlison support and we rectified that.

"Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been the talisman and is a big loss but we have players in the dressing room who can step up. Michael Keane is one of the best finishers I have ever seen.

"Everton also had a great start last season too but fell away. We have suffered adversity in each game but have found a way to come out of it. That stands us in good stead for the rest of the season."

Three goals in six minutes secures the points for Everton#EVEBUR pic.twitter.com/pzQOoP59Rz

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 13, 2021

Jay Rodriguez is the first J Rodriguez to play at Goodison Park this season.

— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) September 13, 2021

Brilliant piece of in-game management from Rafa Benítez who switches to a 4-2-3-1 despite his side getting an equaliser.

The system change released Abdoulaye Doucouré to a 10, who went on to get two assists in two minutes, improving Everton’s attacking threat dramatically. 👏🔵 pic.twitter.com/LGAn2aDzfv

— The Coaches' Voice (@CoachesVoice) September 13, 2021

#EVEBUR BONUS POINTS AS IT STANDS

3 - Townsend
2 - Doucoure
1 - Keane#FPL pic.twitter.com/qRAP2ojmmU

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) September 13, 2021

Really pleased for @22Demarai. Always had bags of potential and if he carries on like this he may well be the bargain buy of the season.

— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) September 13, 2021

Rondon and Duncan Ferguson the only hat-trick of headed goals-scorers in PL history. What insane feat will they cook up together?

— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) September 13, 2021

Everton have as many league wins at Goodison Park in 2021 under Rafa Benitez as they got under Carlo Ancelotti (2).

— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) September 13, 2021

I’m no blue nose, but that was some goal. #EVEBUR pic.twitter.com/S1GwFewdjn

— Dosser (@BoxingDiagram) September 13, 2021

FULL-TIME AND EVERTON REMAIN UNBEATEN..

10 points from four games and Everton are now joint top on the Premier League table. Burnley remains in the relegation zone but the story of the night is the Andros Townsend show. A marvellous cross for the equaliser before a stunning, stunning, stunning strike to take the lead.

Demarai Gray added a third before Burnley had a goal disallowed. All in 7 odd minutes..

Everton killing time by playing pass-pass as the crowd "oles" every pass.

Once again, inspired by Andros Townsend's heroics, Dwight McNeil has a little dance beyond a few defenders before opting to smack a 25+ yard banger beyond Pickford.

His effort, unlike a certain Portuguese midfielder's, is on target but Pickford deals with it.

Everton nearly make it four as they produce a delightful one touch move from the half-line, eventually find Townsend down the inside right but his cross doesn't quite work out.

It falls for Iwobi on the left, he works it back into the middle but while Gomes makes the late run, he can't connect with the shot and Burnley clear.

Into four minutes of added time...

Corner for Burnley after Seamus Coleman deals with Charlie Taylor and Burnley have a chance at something.

The ball is fired into the middle, Pickford flies out and somehow flaps at air but connects with the ball as it fizzed over the crowd. Everton recollect and waste time with terrible possession.

Dwight McNeil with another glorious cross into the middle but Jay Rodriguez can't quite get over that and loops it into the stands for a goal-kick.

A few cheers from the home fans, I'm presuming, as both Everton and Burnley - once again I don't know why - time waste.

Boooooo, we want more goals. Five, or even six. Come on, rack them up and knock them down.

Change for Everton..

Demarai Gray, who has been rather lovely tonight, is replaced by Alex Iwobi.

Change for Burnley...

Jay Rodriguez replaces Chris Wood.

Must say, after that drab first half, this second half has absolutely flown away. Only just realised that we've got about six minutes, and change, of normal time left. Not bad at all.

Everton clear their lines from the corner but McNeil hammers a shot back at goal, from the rebound, but sends his daisy cutter right into Jordan Pickford's hands.

Corner for Burnley and up rumble the big men. Which is everyone barring Nick Pope, although at 6'6" you'd wonder how well he'd do at a corner? Rather well, I would imagine.

Stunning. pic.twitter.com/eKNeZV97g8

— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) September 13, 2021

Change for Everton and its debut time.

Salomon Rondon makes his return to the Premier League and replaces Richarlison who is not just pissed off but says words, bad words, to his manager. Not happy he is.

Inspired by Andros Townsend's heroics, Andre Gomes has a little dance through midfield before opting to smack a 25+ yard banger into the top right corner.

He sends it wide. So wide, that the corner flag waved hello as it flew by.

Burnley continue to waste time - why I have no clue - but the Everton fans aren't booing them now.

I wonder why..

Quite enjoying Rafa’s strange team of Premier League journeymen.

The Evexpendables.

— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) September 13, 2021

Double change for Burnley...

Aaron Lennon and Matej Vydra replace Ashley Barnes and Johan Gudmundsson.

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL....NOPE DISALLOWED.

The ball does indeed find the net but Chris Wood, who was offside, bodied Jordan Pickford to stop him from leaping and making the save is caught offside. Replays show that Tarkowski was also offside when the cross was played, which might have also played a part.

Corner for Burnley but Everton deal with the cross into the middle but the Clarets work the ball back into the mixer and..

CHANCE FOR EVERTON!!! Doucoure works the ball back into play following Pope's save, Everton have a pass about and then suddenly erupt. Doucoure is back on it, slides it into the 8 yard area for Andre Gomes but his snapshot flies just wide of the far right outright.

Should have scored...

ANDROS TOWNSENDDDDDD AND POPE SAVES!!

Townsend has another scamper down the right, cuts infield and hears the screams to shoot from the fans and duly obliges. He hammers it towards the top right but this time Nick Pope reads and flies out to parry the ball away.

It's been five minutes since the last time a, legal, goal was scored and this is disappointing.

Do better guys.

The probability gods are back, they're having a mare, and Burnley have a 1% chance of winning.

Everton with the big, ol 96% percenter while the draw has been given a massive 3% chance.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAL...NOPE DISALLOWED!!!

Abdoulaye Doucoure thought he scored, and he did, but the midfielder ventured offside well before the ball arrived at his feet and never really recovered. Everton are flying now..

Football, huh? Bloody hell.

Eat that probability gods.

I refuse to believe that Demarai Gray will keep scoring.

— Andy (@LetsTalk_FPL) September 13, 2021

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!

AND THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN...

Demarai Gray scores for the third Premier League game in a row and it's Everton at it again. Doucoure with the assist after he nicked the ball nearly the half-line, and Goodison Park is roaring now.

Who needs James Rodríguez when you have Andros Townsend?

— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) September 13, 2021

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

PICK THAT OUT. STUNNING STRIKE FROM ANDROS TOWNSEND. HOLY HELL.

Hahhahahahah, pick that out. 25+ yards out, Townsend collects the ball and sends a belter, curving into the top left corner with the ball viciously dipping. Nick Pope had no chance.

The probability gods are back and they've give Burnley a 23% chance of winning.

Everton have a 28% chance but the chances of them settling for a point...is 49%

Everton, btw, have indeed switched to a back four with Allan and Andre Gomes as the midfield duo, Michael Keane and Yerry Mina as the defensive duo with Townsend, Doucoure and Gray playing behind Richarlison.

Goodison explodes once again as Richarlison presses down Pope before Seamus Coleman wins a one-v-one battle against Charlie Taylor with a little shoulder shove. They're loving this.

Wonder what the probability gods have to say now..

Change for Everton..

Ben Godfrey is replaced by Andre Gomes.

A Keane has scored for Rafa Benitez at each Merseyside club he has managed.

— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) September 13, 2021

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!

BUT WHO CARES? BECAUSE MICHAEL KEANE HAS SCORED...

Sensational cross from Andros Townsend as he whips a stunner into the middle and waiting for it was a sea of Burnley defenders and Michael Keane. The defender flies into the sky and powers the header beyond Nick Pope.

Corner for Everton, they work it short as Digne fizzes the ball towards Gray, who drives across goal and then has a pop. It's blocked.

The crowd didn't like the short corner btw...

Huh, with Everton a goal down I would expect to see Salomon Rondon warming up and preparing to walk on but Andre Gomes is the man waiting instead. No wonder I'm not a manager..

The probability gods are back and Burnley have been given a 65% chance of winning this game.

Everton...have a 35% chance of getting anything but a loss.

That's 10% chance of winning and a 25% chance of sneaking the draw.

Having bravely scored a goal on his 200th Premier League appearance, Ben Mee gets a couple of whacks in his private area. Wouldn't want to be him right now..

Well, Burnley have scored. Can Everton muster something up and find the equaliser?

This liveblogger says hell no. Why? Because they've been....terrible. That's the right word.

55' The Clarets take the lead at Goodison Park, through the captain Ben Mee, on his 200th Premier League appearance. 0-1

🎙️- https://t.co/R0gUwYlt3N#EVEBUR | #UTC

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) September 13, 2021

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

BEN MEE ON HIS 200TH APPEARANCE...

Johan Gudmundsson recycles the ball on the far right, swings a delightful ball into the middle and Ben Mee, who times his run brilliantly, eyebrows the ball into the net. Pickford had no chance.

.....Everton clear their lines well but..

Booss envelop Goodison Park as Andros Townsend pushes/lays a hand on Charlie Taylor's back, forcing the man to hit the turf and he earns a yellow card.

From the Burnley free-kick....

Another rough tackle on an Evertonian as Andros Towsend his feet wiped off the floor by Charlie Taylor but once again, the full-back gets all ball. This has definitely become a lot more lively.

The feistiness continues as Demarai Gray is fouled down the left and this time, Everton win a foul because it was a foul.

The resulting free-kick is whipped into the middle by Lucas Digne, but Burnley clear easily.

That has got to hurt as James Tarkowski goes into Richarlison with a hard tackle. That's a rough, all out, fiesty, you don't trick beyond me tackle from the defender.

Clean as a whistle though..

Down to one with the ball placed left off center as Lucas Digne measures the shot..

DIGNEEEEE and the wall does their job.

A few pissed off Burnley fans, and players, in the stadium at the moment after the referee hands Everton a free-kick and Josh Brownhill a yellow card following what didn't look like a foul on Andros Townsend.

Three over this for the hosts..

Apologies, there has been a change at half-time. Michael Keane has now moved into the middle of the back three with Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina on either side of him. 

The commentator, on the idiot box, tells us that there hasn't been a goalless draw between these two in a while which means.....we should have goals.

However, having said that, I believe I've jinxed things.

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!! AND WE'RE BACK UNDERWAY...

Burnley get the ball rolling again and neither boss has made a half-timey change.

HALF-TIME Everton 0-0 Burnley

Chances for both sides but it remains goalless at the break#EVEBUR pic.twitter.com/wcF3ni34Rd

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 13, 2021

If Rondon is fit, you have to revert to 4231. Giving our centre backs so much of the ball when they are woeful passers means we can’t get out. Best passer on the field so far…Pickford. Says it all. Change it. #EVEBUR

— Rafa Beneathus (@Abelsouthall) September 13, 2021

HALF-TIME AND THE SCORES ARE LEVEL AT THE BREAK...

Everton haven't quite settled into their new shape which has allowed Burnley to be the far more threatening side so far but the Clarets will regret the chances they've missed. Excellent ones for both Josh Brownhill and Chris Wood while Abdoulaye Doucoure had Everton's best.

Into one minute of added time...

Naughty, naughty tackle from Demarai Gray as he goes in hard on Lowton near the Burnley corner flag and it's applauded by a few Everton fans. Burnley fans don't like it.

Applause makes its way around Goodison Park for Lee Martyn and daughter Sophie, Everton fans, who lost their lives in a shooting that took place in Plymouth last month.

Classy move from the Evertonians, and the away fans who join in.

Three shots on target for Burnley so far while Everton have had two. Nothing too dangerous though beyond Docoure's smack that forced a save and the same for Pickford.

Into the final five minutes of normal time as Burnley stroke the ball about inside the Everton attacking third and that seems to have silenced the crowd a bit. They're scared of Burnley..

Lucas Digne steps up for the set-piece, swings it deeeep towards the far left post but Ben Godfrey nods it well wide. Not the worst chance in the world that.

Another delightful slide-rule pass to send Richarlison scampering down the outside right, he has a defender up right against him and fires a cross into the mixer.

But it's blocked for a corner at the source and Goodison seems overjoyed at that.

CHANCE FOR EVERTON!!! Fabulous pass from Richarlison as he collects a throw with his back to goal, slides Seamus Coleman into acres of space near the byline and the full-back is off.

His cross is a low, whipped ball into the middle but Demarai Gray turns it wide. The offside flag eventually goes up on Coleman.

The game's got a fiesty air to it now and it shows. Both teams are going hard on each other, with Burnley dishing out and taking as much as they get. This is nice to watch, if you're into this kind of football, but as goal threat go, we haven't had much to talk about for a while.

The Goodison Park crowd are right in this game now as they jeer, and cheer, at the referee and Burnley following a foul on Richarlison. The ref saw that, played advantage but it comes to nowt.

The game moves on but only after the lengthy check on Mee and the VAR check to see if anything was wrong is done.

A little something something from Richarlison on Mee and the Brazilian gets his tackle all wrong, thus earning a few words from the referee. Not that Richarlison takes it nicely as the VAR checks.

I'm presuming that the check also had a look at the tiny scuffle between the two teams there but that was quickly separated.

It’s a myth that Burnley are just a deep block team - they press, they often drop quite a high press in games like these.

Dyche has them so well coached, but they really are just that, given their recruitment approach, etc.

— Jamie Scott (@JamiescottUV) September 13, 2021

Corner for Everton and the crowd erupts. Not sure why as the hosts work it short, Gray picks out Allan on the far left and he swings one into the middle.

Burnley clear, it's dinked back into the middle after Keane chests it down and produces the cross but Yerry Mina's header was tamely bounced off the ground and into Pope's hand.

Btw, for those wondering, Burnley have had just over 60% possession in this game.

That's according to the stats good on my Tv, so blame them if its wrong.

Tons of time wasting from Burnley and the home fans aren't taking to that kindly.

That seems to have livened the crowd a little as they roar, cheer, jeer and basically just scream their heads off for everything that happens on the field.

GOOD SAVE FROM NICK POPE!!! AND ANOTHER SHOT ON TARGET..

Everton take a bite from the cake now as Andros Townsend, after a long passing move, slides a delightful ball infield for Doucoure to sprint onto. It nearly works out, as the midfielder collects it in his stride and thwacks a shot on goal. Pope reacts well and Burnley clear.

CHANCE FOR BURNLEY!!! THAT'S A SHOT ON TARGET...

Burnley playing delicious football, compared to what I've watched over the last 25 minutes, as Ashley Barnes collects a decent pass down the inside right channel. He reaches the byline, and dinks it towards Chris Wood in the middle.

The forward takes a neat touch, pokes it back to Barnes who tees up Brownhill for the shot, who thumps it down Pickford's throat.

Something for Everton as Andros Townsend tries to lob a ball for Richarlison to collect but Tarkowski man handles the forward and deals with the pass rather effortlessly. No foul, because it wasn't one even if the Brazilian was screaming his head off for one.

Minute 20, btw.

25 minutes into this one....and we've had no shot on target yet. Nothing..

Abdoulaye Doucoure with a nasty little tactical foul on Brownhill and concedes a free-kick that Ashley Westwood dinks into the middle.

Yerry Mina and James Tarkowski battle for it, the Burnley man leaps with his arms out and catches the Colombian which sees the referee pull play back for a foul.

There's something that's stuck in my head from a FIFA game. There the commentator, Lee Dixon, said that when he played in a 3 man backline, they were always scared of playing against a 4-4-2 because of the space and overloads that the opponents could create.

That's this game. To a T.

Everton haven't quite deciphered how to play in a back-three and Pickford is struggling to pick out a target downfield for that quick counter because of Dom Calvert-Lewin's absence.

Richarlison may be good in the air but against James Tarkowski and Ben Mee, he's nothing.

JUST WIDE!! The resulting corner is whipped, might I admit rather beautifully, towards the far right post where Ben Mee eyebrows his header wide of the mark. He was under immense pressure from Pickford and his cohorts but still managed to get something on that.

More bits from Burnley as a cross flies in from the right with Lowton hitting that low, hard and from deep towards the middle but Ashley Barnes dummies it.

The ball flies through his legs, lands for Chris Wood but his shot deflects off Yerry Mina for a corner, which is an excellent decision from the refree.

First bit of interesting action as Charlie Taylor wiggles and dances, yup no joke, down the left before floating one into the middle and it nearly works out.

Unfortunately, Chris Wood's header is tame and Pickford grabs...before thumping it downfield post-haste for Demarai Gray. He can't quite keep the goal-kick in play and concedes a throw.

The battle for the middle third. Not middle earth but middle third although if these two are wasting time this early in the game, watching the LOTR trilogy might be shorter than this.

A few boos from both sides as Burnley take their cool time over a throw before Pickford replicates that by taking an age over a goal-kick. Nice to have fans back in it...