Everton were held to a goalless draw at Turf Moor, missing a chance to climb back into the Premier League’s top half as relegation-threatened Burnley held firm. David Moyes accepted that Everton fell well below recent standards in a game where clear chances were scarce and the visitors’ attacking play rarely threatened.
The contest produced few decisive moments before half-time. Carlos Alcaraz registered the only effort on target during the opening period, while Everton struggled to create sustained pressure. Burnley, battling near the bottom of the table, kept the match tight and limited space, turning the occasion into a slow, scrappy battle rather than an open contest.
Everton’s attacking output remained modest across the 90 minutes, reflected
in an xG of just 0.88, one of their weakest offensive returns for some time. Beto and Thierno Barry both went close after the break, yet Martin Dubravka denied each with solid stops as Burnley survived the visitors’ best openings in the second half.
The stalemate extended a notable statistical trend for Everton. The club have now drawn 112 Premier League matches 0-0, more than any other side in the competition’s history. While the match opened up slightly after half-time, neither team showed enough quality in the final third to change that scoreline.
Moyes did not hide dissatisfaction with the overall display, stressing how it contrasted with recent improved form. Speaking to BBC Sport, Moyes said: "You wouldnt want to watch much of that. It wasnt a good performance. We have been playing quite well recently but that wasnt one of our best. I was disappointed that we couldnt play better because we can do better than we showed todayIm not happy at all. "
Squad issues influenced Moyes’ options at Turf Moor and will continue into the next fixture. Everton’s bench contained only six outfield players, with four yet to appear in the Premier League. The reduced numbers highlighted how stretched the group has become ahead of the trip to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Jack Grealish missed the match after developing a virus shortly before kick-off, joining Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite on the sidelines. Iliman Ndiaye is unavailable due to Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal. Moyes said: "We have got quite a few players out at the moment. Hopefully Jack will be fine and well get him back this week. "
Burnley, meanwhile, managed to avoid defeat for a second successive league outing, despite not recording a single shot on target. Scott Parker felt the performance merited more than one point, emphasising Burnley’s organisation and threat without the final touch. He said: "I thought we were worthy of the three points today. We didnt put our chances away but Im really positive about today, while there is an element of frustration. Its a clean sheet, its a point and a good performance, which encourages me. "
FT. A point on the road. Thank you for your support this afternoon, Toffees. pic.twitter.com/GHW8Dprc6fEverton (@Everton) December 27, 2025
The draw leaves Everton frustrated after missing the opportunity to strengthen their league position, yet the clean sheet may offer minor reassurance given the stretched squad. Burnley gained another valuable point in their survival effort, though Parker’s remarks underline the feeling that a bolder attacking edge could have turned the contest their way.
