Gylfi Sigurdsson says Everton are targeting a sparkling performance against Burnley on Friday night to demonstrate the wholesale improvement achieved under Marco Silva this season.

Victory over Sean Dyche’s team would represent a fourth Goodison Park success on the spin for Everton – who have seen off Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United in their past three home fixtures.

Midfielder Sigurdsson is expecting to encounter a “very strong” Burnley side – but the Icelander insists his own team can approach the contest confident they are “doing everything better” than at any point since his August 2017 arrival.

Everton have claimed 17 points from their past nine matches and recorded seven clean sheets in that period – including one against Liverpool at the outset of their four-game unbeaten Goodison run.

“We have had a number of good results and performances in the past couple of months and, with those, the team has grown in confidence,” said Sigurdsson.

“Everything feels a bit easier when confidence is high.

“We have been better defensively, not only the back four but throughout the team.

“Having that solidity enables us to play with more freedom going forward and we are scoring goals.

“It feels like we are doing everything better.

“We need to continue the work we’ve been doing over the past couple of months, finish strongly and take what we are doing into next season.”

Everton’s expansive, high-tempo football has generated a thunderous Goodison atmosphere of late.

The 127-year-old stadium was rocking a fortnight ago when Silva’s side thumped United 4-0 – stretching their run without conceding a home goal to a fourth game.

Everton shutout Crystal Palace last week, too, but were unable to convert their dominance – illustrated by the Toffees having 22 shots to Palace’s eight and hogging 64 per cent of possession – into three points.

Sigurdsson, though, conceded Everton’s frustration over their superiority not being reflected in the outcome at Selhurst Park reflects his side's progress over recent months.

“The players are very happy with the manager and staff,” said Sigurdsson.

“The manager is trying to build something and we are going in the right direction.

“He is very passionate and likes managing. He works us hard, he is fair to the players and tough on you when he needs to be.

“All the players really enjoy working with him.

“We have always known what we are capable of, even if some of the results and performances for a period didn’t match our own expectations.

“We created enough chances to score against Palace and it was frustrating not to get the goal.

“It was, perhaps, a good point, though. We were strong defensively again and performed well collectively.”


Everton won comprehensively at Burnley on Boxing Day, the Blues’ 5-1 victory earned courtesy of a Lucas Digne double and goals from Yerry Mina, Richarlison and Sigurdsson.

Sigurdsson and Richarlison are tied on 13 strikes each as Everton’s leading Premier League marksmen this term.

And if the pair are to add to their tallies this week, they will need to breach a Burnley defence which has tightened significantly since that Turf Moor clash four months ago.

Dyche’s team has conceded only four goals in five games, winning three and drawing one to climb away from trouble at the foot of the table.

"They have done very well since Sean Dyche has been at the club [he was appointed boss in October 2012],” added Sigurdsson.

“We know they’re tough to play against and very strong at set-pieces.

“They are physically strong and very fit.

“But it is up to us to break them down.

“Goodison is a fantastic place to play and we’ve heard how loud it can get.

“And I know from playing against Everton, it is not an easy place for teams to come and get points.

“If we continue playing how we have in the past few weeks, I am sure the crowd will get behind us and, hopefully, it will be a good Friday night.”