Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Everton must not be over reliant on Lukaku - Koeman

Belgium international Lukaku, who struck 18 Premier League goals last season, has continued his impressive form under Koeman, netting six of Everton's 12 league goals.

Everton must not be over reliant on Lukaku - Koeman
(Reuters)

Koeman's side, who are sixth in the standings and have conceded just six goals after the opening eight league games, boast the second best defensive record in the top flight after leaders Manchester City.

"Of course, you'd like many players to score more goals. The players around Lukaku need to show more productivity. There is no pressure on Lukaku. It's one of his best qualities," the Dutchman told a news conference on Thursday.

"On the other hand we haven't conceded more than one every game but we need to create more and we need to score more goals."

The 53-year-old Koeman added that midfielder Ross Barkley's omission from last weekend's clash with City could be a wake-up call for him.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

However, Koeman, who last month told Barkley to improve "in all areas", said the 22-year-old did not play at the Etihad Stadium for tactical reasons.

"They are quality players. He is young but he is not so young because he has been playing four years in the first team. It means you are not a talent anymore and need to show what you can do," he said.

"I changed him and I did not start with him but it can be different this weekend. If I am not totally happy or it is tactical then he does not start. Maybe last weekend was a wake-up call for him."

Koeman confirmed that left back Leighton Baines will miss Saturday's trip to Burnley after suffering a setback with his hamstring injury, while winger Aaron Lennon is available for selection after missing out against City.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche said injured midfielder Steven Defour will miss Saturday's game.

The 28-year-old, who has racked up three assists and scored once in seven league games this season, sustained a hamstring injury in 14th-place Burnley's defeat by Southampton on Sunday.

"Steven has got a pretty straight-forward hamstring injury. It's straight-forward as regards the scan. When players come off that quickly you are also a bit wary that it could be worse than it is," Dyche said.

(Reporting by Ian Rodricks in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)


2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world