Burnley

Grace Wheeler
BBC Sport

Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at the Amex (kick-off 15:00).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Parker was asked about his team news and an injury update on Maxime Estève: "He won't make the weekend, he has done work on the grass today. It's too much to risk and with such a short turnaround, we don't want to risk the early changes in the game. We are hoping for a speedy recovery, we will prepare now to get him in a good position."

• On other team news, he said: "We are where we are in terms of injuries, we are extremely stretched and we have hit a bad run in terms of injuries but nothing new."

• Parker spoke to the media on the January transfer window: "I think there is an opportunity for us and there is a lot of dynamics and I can only name a 25-man squad. It's not as easy as bringing in five players, as I need to think about who is coming and who is going. We will try and be reactive to long-term injuries. We will work through it in this window."

• On whether it would be ideal for some players to move on, he added: "I think so, we have a big squad and that's without players who are out on loan and there will be players who want/need football, so this window is an opportunity for them to get that. This window is always a difficult window. In an ideal world we would love to bring players in as early as we can."

Listen to live commentary of the game on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, with coverage starting at 14:55 GMT

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

A normal Premier League season may run from August to May, but what happens if we stop the table now? What if it was only what happened in 2025 that counted?

With the calendar flicking over to 2026, this is the ideal time to check back on which teams have had an enjoyable 12 months and see who had a year to forget.

The top five is an accurate reflection of this season's top five (although it should be noted not all teams have played the same number of games).

Arsenal have led the way this campaign and, after coming up short last season, they will be striving to go one better to finally secure an elusive first Premier League trophy since 2004.

If looking just at the past 12 months, the title would be theirs, despite a number of draws early in 2025.

Having gone through their worst run of form under Pep Guardiola late in 2024 and early into 2025, alongside their initial poor start to this season, it may be surprising to find Manchester City so close at the top.

But a feature of this City side under Guardiola is their ability to recover from less than impressive starts and go on winning streaks - they are currently on a run of six wins in the league.

Aston Villa fans can look also back fondly on 2025, having experienced the return of Champions League football, secured more European football again this term and found themselves in a battle for the Premier League trophy.

They may have had a slow start this season but their general consistency in 2025 and a club record-equalling run of 11 straight wins in the final weeks catapults them into the top three.

Having won the title with ease last season, Liverpool fans can still revel in that achievement. But a drop-off at the end of 2024-25 and a poor run this time around leaves them fourth for the year.

Meanwhile, Chelsea made progress in 2025 under Enzo Maresca, with Champions League football and two bits of silverware, but a lack of consistency in a young team prevents them ascending higher than fifth.

When looking at the next five, there are perhaps some surprises.

With their FA Cup win, 2025 will go down in Crystal Palace's history, and their Premier League form has not been too shabby either as they compete with the teams that have occupied Champions League spots in recent seasons.

No Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo or Yoane Wissa? No problem for Brentford. They may have had a summer of upheaval but that has not stopped the Bees buzzing as they continue to perform above expectations.

After a few years of struggles on and off the pitch, 2025 seems to be the one Everton fans can finally start to look up rather than down with the new stadium and return of David Moyes bringing much-needed stability.

Newcastle may have had a few ups and downs, but they have come good when needed and hold their own in the top six, while Brighton continue to establish themselves firmly in the top 10.

Find out how the bottom half of the table shapes up on the post below

Now, what about those who may have had a less enjoyable 2025?

Manchester United continue to try to find their feet under Ruben Amorim. And while there have been glimmers of progress in recent weeks, a torrid first half of the year has left them with much room for improvement (and a draw with Wolves to end 2025 only added to the questions).

Bournemouth and Fulham both seem to have found consistency in their ability to be inconsistent.

There have been bursts of form from both, but also bouts of disappointment they might rather forget.

As for Nottingham Forest, 2025 may have been the year they returned to Europe for the first time in nearly three decades, but when it came to results in the league, particularly this season, it has been more of one to forget.

Under their third head coach of the season, they will hope 2026 does not bring the return of Championship football.

Like Forest, Tottenham's 12 months has been memorable for both the good and the bad.

A first trophy in 17 years was secured in the Europa League, but it has been far from impressive in the Premier League, managing just 11 wins from 37 matches and some pressure already building on boss Thomas Frank.

One of the most notable things about the bottom end of the calendar year table is the presence of all three promoted teams, despite two of the three having played a game less than the relegated clubs of last season.

With Leeds nine points better off and Sunderland 17, it highlights the disparity in how well this year's promoted sides have done in comparison to the previous three.

For the Black Cats, it has been a dream return to the top flight, including a recent win over Tyne-Wear rivals Newcastle, and in this season's table they find themselves just two points off fifth.

After overcoming a difficult patch, Leeds are also enjoying their return to the top table, slowly pulling themselves away from the danger spots.

It has been more of a struggle for Scott Parker's Burnley, but they will not lose hope with still half a campaign to go.

After recent successes with European football, domestically things have become a harder watch for West Ham supporters as they struggle to find the balance between good football and much-needed results

Then there is Wolves - and fans may want to look away.

Despite playing 20 Premier League games more, the West Midlands side accumulated only one point more than Sunderland across the year.

A win this term still eludes them and safety in 2026 appears a distant dream.

Check out how the top half of the table looked in the post above

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Best memory and why?

Good times have been few and far between in this first half of the season with the only real joy coming from our ability to convincingly beat our relegation rivals. It is from that, that my favourite moment comes: the Leeds game at home with an absolute screamer from Loum Tchaouna.

It also came at a time when hope of survival seemed a reasonable expectation, hope that seems to fade as each game passes. The Clarets have lost the spark they had in that game too, with so many of our performances since lacking inspiration.

Worst moment and why?

Outsiders would be tempted to say the Manchester City game. But as any Burnley fan will tell you, losing 5-1 away at the Etihad is just part and parcel of Premier League football for the Clarets. So much so that we do not even flinch any more.

So, instead, I go to the West Ham game, where Burnley fell to a 3-2 defeat and failed for the first time to beat one of the other teams at the bottom of the table. It felt like a significant result at the time, and so it proved to be. Burnley went on to lose their next five games and drifted further afield of safety.

If I could drink a New Year's brew with one member of our squad/management it would be...

Ashley Barnes. He is such an iconic character at the club.

and I'd ask him...

How times have changed in the decade he has been with us. And what makes him so very... him.

The thing that's infuriated me in 2025 is...

VAR. As it did in 2024. And how it will do again in 2026.

My gut tells me 2026 will bring...

Relegation.

Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external

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We asked for your views on what happens now captain Josh Cullen will be out for many months.

Here are some of your comments:

Jubi: Cullen is excellent in the Championship, so this is a massive blow to next year's quest to get promoted. I personally wouldn't replace him - relegation is almost certain at this stage. There are plenty of midfielders at the club. Hannibal, Lyle Foster, Florentino Luis, Josh Laurent and even Zian Flemming can play centrally.

Steve: Just play with 10, can't get much worse.

Harry: I think in the January transfer window we should loan a player with an opportunity to buy. If he's good we can keep him but if he's bad, Cullen can come back into the squad.

David: Gives someone else a chance. He's only part of a team, so why worry? We are going down anyway. It;s a striker and replacing Hjalmar Ekdal that is the priority.

Andy: We are now utterly finished. We can can try to find someone in the January window but who would want sign for Burnley now? After 66 years of support until Pace and ALK sell up, taking their debts and broken promises with them, I won't support the Clarets anymore.

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley captain Josh Cullen is set for a "prolonged period on the sidelines" after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Everton.

The 29-year-old had previously been an ever-present for the Clarets in the Premier League this season and will be sorely missed in the centre of midfield.

So how do Burnley replace him?

Do they need to find someone in the transfer market once it opens on 1 January and do you have an idea who that might be?

Or is there a readymade solution in Scott Parker's existing squad?

Get in touch with your views here

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Burnley and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Burnley fans

Mark: I thought this was our best performance by far excluding the first 10 minutes. Everyone was up for it and we made some brilliant chances yet once again nobody could finish. We need to address this striker situation even if we bring a decent finisher on loan but we're destined for a return to the Championship.

Steve: So disappointed with the first 10 minutes when we left players unmarked and paid the price. Was ready for a heavy defeat which would have been disappointing after a good really effort at the weekend. But their response was brilliant and but for a goalline clearance, the bar and a great Nick Pope save we could and should have come away with a point. The ref bottled a second yellow card with five minutes left and to lose the third as we did was heartbreaking. It was telling that the Newcastle fans were so quiet in the second half. We are down but it's good to see a great team fighting spirit. That's the minimum fans want.

Tim: Best this season at home but need more shooting practice. We need to talk to each other especially in defence as we gave a silly goal away. I can't see us staying up

James: Parker is out of his depths in this league. All too little too late now! Alan Pace sacked Sean Dyche for a lot less. Not to have a win in 10 league games says everything.

Newcastle fans

Larry: Character and the players are playing for the shirt. My only doubt is the amount of times we lose the ball. Overall though, well done to the lads

Keegan: Good first half. Poor second half. Third goal killed it and finally breaking the away game voodoo. Two Premier League home games next and it is crucial to win those and the two FA Cup games.

Chris: It was all about getting the win. So now it's all to play for as we head into a January full of big games. Some of our players now need to stand up and be counted as January will most likely define our season.

Graeme: There's something wrong at Newcastle and to say this was a good display is not right. It was very poor in so many areas and we were lucky to come away with a win. Nice to see Pope kicking it into touch again. Burnley must feel very hard done by being beaten by such a mediocre side.

Burnley boss Scott Parker, speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "There's disappointment and an element of frustration. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb - seven minutes and we're 2-0 down.

"The positives are we showed a real spirit, a real commitment, a real fight. Sometimes in these moments - like in life - in times of adversity, spirit and commitment can disappear very quickly.

"Second half we were really dominant and created numerous chances."

Forward Marcus Edwards, speaking to Sky Sports: "The first 10 minutes cost us the game. We can be happy with the number of chances we created but at this level you have got to finish them.

"We're disappointed with that, we're disappointed not to come away with points. I thought I could have scored so I'm not too happy right now.

"We are always going to feel we've got a chance. We're not the type of people to ever give up. We're looking to put this behind us and looking to the next game and try and get three points."

Did you know?

• Burnley are winless in their last 10 Premier League games (D2 L8), with the Clarets last enduring a longer run across the same league season between November 2021 – February 2022 under Sean Dyche (11).

• Burnley's Armando Broja has been directly involved in two goals across his last three Premier League games (one goal, one assist), as many contributions as in his previous 47 appearances in the competition.

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Scott Parker's final instructions would still have been ringing in his players' ears when Joelinton put Newcastle United in front. It was the quickest goal Burnley have conceded in a Premier League game.

If that was not bad enough, Yoane Wissa made it 2-0 just a few minutes later with Burnley aggrieved after Laurent was bundled over in the build-up by Bruno Guimaraes, only for the goal to stand following a check by the video assistant referee.

Burnley's night went from bad to worse when recalled defender Maxime Esteve hobbled off on his return to action.

It would have been easy for Burnley to feel sorry for themselves, and to go under, having failed to win a game since October.

But there is a reason why Parker has repeatedly called his side "fighters".

The lively Marcus Edwards lit a spark, firing just wide from outside the box and reawakening the home fans. Just a minute later, Josh Laurent halved Newcastle's lead.

It was rather fitting that the hosts left the field to the strains of Tubthumping by Chumbawamba through the stadium speakers at half-time.

This side had been knocked down, but they got up again and their efforts and courage could not be faulted as they pushed for a goal after the break - only to see Guimaraes ultimately dash any hopes of a comeback in the dying minutes.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Burnley's performance

What did you make of Newcastle's display?

Come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies

Burnley defender Maxime Esteve returns to the starting line-up as manager Scott Parker makes three changes for the visit of Newcastle United.

The Frenchman is fit to start after missing the draws against Everton and Bournemouth with a knock.

Loum Tchaouna and Florentino also come into the side.

Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka faces his former team.

Burnley starting line-up: Dubravka, Walker, Ekdal, Laurent, Esteve, Pires, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Edwards, Broja, Tchaouna

Subs: Weiss, Bruun Larsen, Anthony, Humphreys, Sonne, Tresor, Banel, Barnes, Pimlott

Newcastle keeper Nick Pope also lines up against his old club as the Magpies make four changes for the trip to Turf Moor.

Pope has been handed his first start in a month after recovering from illness and a groin injury.

Joelinton, Harvey Barnes and Yoane Wissa are also recalled following the 1-0 defeat against Manchester United last week.

Newcastle starting line-up: Pope, Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Barnes, Wissa, Gordon

Subs: Ramsdale, J.Murphy, Woltemade, Willock, A.Murphy, Ramsey, Shahar, Neave, Alabi

Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

There is no doubt 2025 that will be etched in Newcastle folklore as the club ended their 56-year-wait for a major trophy with League Cup glory. Returning to the Champions League was also a seismic milestone.

However, despite these achievements, boss Eddie Howe heads into 2026 despondent at how the year has tailed off for his side.

His 200th match in charge of the Geordies ended in huge disappointment with a frustrating 1-0 loss at Manchester United laying bare his side's struggles on the road.

They have won just one of their nine away league games this season and that 4-1 victory over Everton accounts for a whopping 57% of their top-flight goals scored outside St James' Park.

They had 44 touches in Manchester United's box and put in 46 crosses – both of which were season highs, but just three of their 16 shots were on target as they registered a fifth top-flight blank away from home this season.

Since 19 April, the only ever-present Premier League side with fewer away points than the Magpies' seven is Wolves with four.

"We're finding a way to concede goals when we don't look like we should and we're not scoring the goals that we should at the other end. It's a deadly mix for us," lamented Howe at Old Trafford.

Burnley were also left to rue a lack of a cutting edge in their goalless draw with Everton. They also had 16 shots but not a single one was on target.

The Clarets are the top-flight's joint lowest scorers in home matches this season with rock-bottom Wolves also having notched a mere seven goals in nine games.

They did at least make it two games without defeat, steadying the ship somewhat after their horror run of seven consecutive losses.

But with this match marking the halfway point of the season, Scott Parker knows his side have to turn draws into wins if they are to trim the gap to safety, which currently stands at six points.

Their only victories this season have come against fellow promoted sides Leeds and Sunderland, and struggling Wolves.

The omens for the Clarets are not great given Newcastle's recent record against them.

A Magpies victory would be their eighth in succession against Burnley, which would set a new outright club record for consecutive victories versus an opponent in the top flight, surpassing the seven they had also won in a row against Bury between 1903 and 1906.

Also, Howe has won each of his past two away league matches against Burnley, who he managed between January 2011 and October 2012. He could become the first former Clarets boss to win three matches in a row at Turf Moor.

Burnley have drawn their past two games but they really need a win because they are a little adrift at the bottom - six points from safety.

Scott Parker is under a bit of pressure and a few of their fans have called up 606 saying they want a change. I still think they have been competitive though, even if they haven't beaten anyone since 26 October.

Newcastle could do with a victory as well though. They are a strange side because they have been playing quite well but not really getting results. I keep backing them to win, so it is costing me too.

I'm not going to stop though. I'm going for a rare away win for Eddie Howe's side - and this time they will keep a clean sheet.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley manager Scott Parker says Maxime Esteve is "closer" to match fitness.

The defender started every Premier League game for Burnley before he suffered a knock in training on 20 December.

Esteve, 23, missed the Clarets' draw with Bournemouth and was not fit to return against Everton.

But Parker is hopeful that Esteve's return is imminent.

"Maxime's closer," Parker said.

"Hopefully he'll be back in training with us [on Sunday] and hopefully he'll be in the frame to play."

Burnley face Newcastle again on Tuesday after losing 2-1 at St James' Park earlier in December, with Lucas Pires being shown a red card at the end of the first half.

"It'll be a tough game. They're a really good side and an aggressive side - a man v man team," Parker added.

"We're coming off two positive performances where we've looked really solid.

"We've probably given up a few chances and also we've shown another side to us in the attacking phase where we looked a real threat.

"We could take some huge positives from last time we played Newcastle, certainly before the sending off, so we'll prep and we'll get into this game now."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Burnley and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Burnley fans

Paul: That was better from the Clarets. Everton had more shots on target but for once it looked like Burnley could win it. Some big chances missed. One that slipped away.

Harvo: More positive display than we have been seeing but our lack of quality in the final third will cost us dear.

Peter: Best home performance for a while. Don't know why Scott Parker keeps picking Marcus Edwards though - he very rarely beats an opponent and is easily taken off the ball. Desperately need a decent striker.

Graham: Scott Parker says football is like a boxing match. Unfortunately, we are going down without a fight. He sends them in with one hand tied behind their backs.

Everton fans

Jeff: If you don't have a proper striker and you are missing your three best players - Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye - I guess a draw is a good outcome. Having said that, we played Burnley. Second from bottom Burnley! Even worse is the fact that for a new much needed striker we have to rely on the same people who bought £40 million Tyler Dibling and £9 million Adam Aznou this summer. We all know how that worked out!

Paul: We are certainly down to the bare bones. Playing with a midfield that haven't played together this season was a big ask. The rebuild is still underway and this was a good point given our absences. I do fear the Nottingham Forest and Brentford games coming up if we don't get some players back.

Christopher: Truly shocking first half. Improvement in second half with both sides having chances. Apart from Tim Iroegbunam, none of the replacements did themselves any favours. To be fair to David Moyes he had few options on the bench to change things up. Without Grealish, KDH and Ndiaye, we are a bang average lower to midtable side.

Mike: Let's not sugarcoat it - that was absolutely woeful from Everton. We offered nothing; no runners off the ball, passing backwards, sideways or giving it away time and time again. Forest away next. Repeat that performance and we will get hammered.

Ajax have identified Burnley defender Quilindschy Hartman, 21, as one of their main targets for the upcoming January transfer window. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Betty Glover
Final Score reporter at Turf Moor

Image source, Getty Images

This game was between Burnley and Everton was far from a thriller and was probably destined to be goalless from the outset, given both teams have been struggling in front of goal and lacking creativity.

And a point does little to help either side in the Premier League standings.

But for Burnley, come May, those three points could have been crucial.

Scott Parker's reaction at full-time said it all - a simple shake of the head as he walked away from his technical area with his hands in his pockets.

He will feel his team should have won that. But once again, a lack of finishing touch - and possibly a lack of luck - cost them. Even though none of their 16 shots were on target, they arguably had the better opportunities.

Zian Flemming and Jacob Bruun Larsen went agonisingly close, with Armando Broja also having an opening in the first half.

Burnley looked more organised in the final third and defensively more secure, offering Parker some positives to take away.

Yet with the halfway point of the season approaching and the gap to safety now six points, those small positives may not be enough.

The question is, how can Scott Parker find the spark this side so clearly needs?

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-1 Brighton

• Liverpool 2-1 Wolves

• Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley registered their second successive draw in the Premier League by holding Everton to a goalless stalemate at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The two points gained in as many matches would be welcome returns for the Clarets, who were on a seven-match losing streak before the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth last week.

But there was a feeling that Scott Parker's side could have salvaged more than a point out of a weakened Everton side against whom they produced 16 shots to generate an xG of 1.65 but without even recording a single shot on target.

The Clarets have struggled offensively this season and their first and only shot on target against the Cherries last week was Armando Broja's 90th-minute equaliser.

Jacob Bruun Larsen failed to slot past Jordan Pickford after going one-on-one with the Everton goalkeeper while substitute Zian Flemming hit the woodwork late on but was adjudged offside in the build-up.

Parker's side will hope to turn some of the chances they create into goals when they host Newcastle United at Turf Moor before a trip to Brighton on 3 January.

And with six points separating them and Nottingham Forest, who are 17th, the Clarets will need to start picking up wins sooner rather than later if they are to maintain their top-flight status.

Burnley boss Scott Parker spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's draw to Everton: "I thought we were well worthy of the three points today. We came here understanding what we needed to be and we were every bit of that. The fine margins of what the Premier League is - we didn't put our chances away when we had some real good chances.

"We're frustrated because we were very, very close today to getting the three points and we've not managed to do that. It's a clean sheet, a point and a good performance and that's what encourages me.

On the Bruun Larsen chance: "That was the one. It was a big chance for us, Flem's one at the end as well. I know the linesman has given it offside but I think that would have been marginal. While of course we can be downbeat in terms of the chances and not putting them away, we've created them and took a very good team right to it.

"I don't want to be too critical at this moment in time because I thought we were the dominant team. We showed an endeavour, a will and understood where and what we needed to be - that shows progression for this group.

"A football match is a boxing match. You often find that unless someone has a knockout blow then it gets to the eighth or ninth before it comes alive, and that was probably it today. At the back end we showed a real commitment and endeavour to win the game. Before that it was nip and tuck and both teams jabbing away.

"It's two games now where we have picked up a point and while of course we would have liked more, it's something to build on."

Did you know?

• During this match Burnley attempted 16 shots but failed to register a single one on target, the third time that they've had 15+ shots without a shot on target in a Premier League fixture after games against Liverpool in December 2014 (16) and West Brom in August 2017 (20).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Burnley's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Burnley boss Scott Parker makes three changes from the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth last week.

Armando Broja, who scored the late equaliser against the Cherries, starts along with Bashir Humphreys and Marcus Edwards as Zian Flemming and Jaidon Anthony drop to bench and Joe Worrall misses out.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Laurent, Larsen, Ugochukwu, Edwards, Humphreys, Ekdal, Pires, Cullen, Broja.

Subs: Weiss, Hartman, Anthony, Florentino, Tchaouna, Flemming, Sonne, Tresor, Barnes.

Everton manager David Moyes makes two changes to the side that started the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.

Tyler Dibling is given a rare start but Jack Grealish is missing from the matchday squad entirely while Beto replaces Thierno Barry up front.

Everton XI: Pickford, Keane, Tarkowski, McNeil, Beto, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Dibling, Alcaraz, Garner, Iroegbunam.

Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, Barry, Rohl, Aznou, Welch, Campbell.