Everton head into Sunday's home clash with Burnley knowing that a win will see them leapfrog their opponents in the Premier League table and likely propel them out of the bottom half.
The Blues, who sit in 14th place ahead of kickoff, are seeking back-to-back league victories for the first time this season, but they face a side who are unbeaten on the road and have lost just once this term.
Everton
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Just when Everton were showing signs of turning their dismal season around, a midweek Europa League draw at home with Cypriot minnows Apollon Limassol marred their preparations for the Burnley match.
Five days earlier, Ronald Koeman's Toffees were celebrating their first win league win since the opening day of the season, having beaten Bournemouth 2-1 at Goodison Park.
The previously goal-shy Everton discovered their scoring touch late on against the Cherries, but the issues that have plagued Koeman's side all season were all too apparent when the Cypriots came to Merseyside.
Careless errors, including a howler from veteran centre-back Ashley Williams, led to their opponents' goals and the Blues were as apprehensive as ever in the final third, and flat in their approach.
There were, however, a handful of positives to draw that could be carried over to their league campaign, notably the performance of Croatian youngster Nikola Vlasic, who came off the bench to score Everton's second goal and make a strong case for inclusion against the Clarets.
Last weekend against Bournemouth, another positive presented itself in the shape of forgotten man Oumar Niasse's sharpness in front of goal, the Senegalese netting a brace during a stellar substitute appearance to make it three goals into two appearances in all competitions.
With Everton desperate for goals, Niasse could be handed a start against Burnley, playing off either Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Vlasic, or a combination of those players, up front.
The form of youngsters like Calvert-Lewin, Vlasic and Tom Davies, who had a hand in both goals against the Cherries, could be key to Everton building on last weekend's victory, and at least one of these players could maintain a regular starting spot while Koeman tinkers with his new-look team in search of the right balance.
Recent form: WDLLLW
Recent form (all competitions): LLLWWD
Burnley
© SilverHub
Burnley have made a strong start to the season, with only one defeat so far, although three of their last four matches have been stalemates.
Two of those draws, however, were impressive points on the road at Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, and Sean Dyche will no doubt be hoping that his side can maintain their impressive away form when they travel to Everton.
The Clarets start the afternoon in ninth place in the table and could go as high as fourth with a win at Goodison, a feat which would make this their best ever start to a Premier League campaign, but they are yet to keep a clean sheet on the road so far this season.
Recent singing Chris Wood, who joined the club from Leeds United in August, is shaping up to be a shrewd bit of transfer business for Burnley, netting two crucial goals so far - a winner against Crystal Palace and a last-gasp equaliser against Spurs at Wembley Stadium.
Goals in general have not been a problem for Dyke's men this term, with the Lancashire outfit failing to score on just two occasions in all competitions, and they will likely go on the attack against a potentially Europa League-fatigued Everton.
Recent form: WLDWDD
Recent form (all competitions): LDWDLD
Team News
© SilverHub
Niasse is Everton's top goalscorer in domestic competitions, despite playing just 59 minutes of football this season.
The 27-year-old's double against Bournemouth coupled with a goal against Sunderland in the EFL Cup has put him in contention to lead the attack against Burnley.
Rooney is expected to be fit to face the Clarets despite taking a knocking against Apollon Limassol in midweek, while Vlasic may have done enough to earn a place in the starting XI by impressing during the European tie.
The Blues face a defence crisis of sorts with two of their centre-backs out - Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka. Williams is Koeman's only recognised option in this position, meaning that Cuco Martina is likely to be deployed as a makeshift.
Burnley have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Goodison, though Sam Vokes is pressing for a recall after starting last weekend's 0-0 draw against Huddersfield Town on the bench.
Nakhi Wells and Jon Walters remain sidelined through injury.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Martina, Williams, Holgate, Baines; Gueye, Klaasen, Sigurdsson, Vlasic; Rooney, Niasse
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward; Arfield, Cork, Hendrick, Defour; Vokes, Wood
Head To Head
History is on Everton's side in this fixture, with the Blues having suffered only one home reverse against the Clarets since 1963, winning 10 out of 14 encounters.
Taking away games into account, the Toffees have won four out of their last five meetings with Burnley.
Conceding against Everton has been a major issue for the visitors, as Dyke's side have kept just one clean sheet in the last 32 contests between the clubs.
We say: Everton 1-1 Burnley
History may be in Everton's favour, but in the present day, Burnley will travel to Goodison to face a side that is severely low on confidence and often short on goals.
The Blues showed some improvement and attacking intent against Bournemouth last weekend, in the second half, at least, and may be able to snatch a goal through Niasse or Rooney.
However, the Clarets are in stellar away form and are more than capable of doing some damage to a Europa League-fatigued Everton side that could be playing with only one recognised centre-back.
All of these things considered, the two teams will cancel each other out.
Mark Langshaw
