LAST UPDATE | 26 Dec 2018
EVERTON BOUNCED BACK from their Tottenham thrashing by inflicting similar punishment on Burnley with a 5-1 victory at Turf Moor this afternoon as Lucas Digne scored two free-kicks and Yerry Mina, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison all netted for the Toffees.
Without in five games, a run that started with their dramatic late loss in the Merseyside derby earlier this month, Everton needed a response after being humbled 6-2 at home to Tottenham on Sunday.
They got off to a perfect start when Colombian defender Mina headed home in the 2nd minute and Digne swept home a brilliant free-kick in the 13th minute. They sailed three goals clear by the 22nd minute when Sigurdsson, who missed a spot kick recently against Watford, made no mistake from the penalty spot on this occasion.
Sean Dyche’s side, who have now won only three times in 19 outings this season, did rally and Ben Gibson netted in the 37th minute to give them hope as they trailed 3-1 in the interval.
However Digne arrowed home a long-range strike to settle the contest in the 71st minute and substitute Richarlison got clear to boot him a fifth goal in injury-time. The result pushes Everton up to eighth but leaves Burnley struggling in the bottom three.
At the bottom Cardiff moved three points clear of the relegation zone by holding out for a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.
Roy Hodgson’s side came into the game on the back of last Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Man City but today’s clash proved the only scoreless match of the afternoon in the Premier League.
Palace stay 14th and Cardiff are now 17th but Fulham remain rooted in the bottom three as Romain Saiss’s late equaliser secured Wolves a share of the points in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.
Earlier today Fulham’s bid avoid relegation from the Premier League suffered a fresh setback as Wolves rescued a late 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.
Ryan Sessegnon came off the bench to put struggling Fulham ahead with just 15 minutes left.
But Romain Saiss hit an 85th-minute equaliser to spoil Fulham’s hopes of bolstering their survival bid.
Claudio Ranieri’s side temporarily climbed off the bottom of the table, one point ahead of Huddersfield before the rest of the Boxing Day schedule.
But Fulham have claimed just six points from seven games since former Leicester boss Ranieri took charge.
That concerning run had left Fulham bottom on Christmas Day — with only three of the previous 26 top-flight teams to have filled that spot going on to avoid relegation.
Fulham snatched the lead in the 74th minute when Patricio made a weak attempt to punch clear from Alfie Mawson’s header and the ball dropped to Sessegnon, whose shot crossed the line before Wolves could clear.
That would have taken the Cottagers off the bottom, but Wolves rescued a point.
Ivan Cavaleiro’s low cross was not dealt with by Fulham’s Joe Bryan and Saiss arrived at the far post to slot home his first Premier League goal.
Mitrovic should have won it in stoppage-time, but his effort was cleared off the line by Conor Coady.
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