Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Burnley - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 3, 2019 Everton's Richarlison shoots before Burnley's Ben Mee scores Everton's first with an own goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

May 3, Reuters - Everton bolstered their chances of qualifying for next season's Europa League with a 2-0 win over Burnley in the Premier League on Friday.

Marco Silva's side moved into eighth place, one point behind seventh-place Wolverhampton Wanderers, who host Fulham on Saturday.

Everton continued their impressive recent form, starting brightly and taking the lead after 18 minutes through Ben Mee's own goal, with the defender deflecting in Richarlison's powerful effort.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Burnley - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 3, 2019 Everton's Richarlison celebrates their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Seamus Coleman doubled Everton's lead two minutes later, heading home the loose ball after Tom Heaton could only parry Lucas Digne's drive.

Burnley striker Ashley Barnes had a goal correctly disallowed for offside as Sean Dyche's men, safe from relegation, threatened briefly.

Matej Vydra was denied a penalty when former Burnley defender Michael Keane appeared to push him over in the box and Everton held on to record their eighth clean sheet in 10 Premier League matches.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Burnley - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 3, 2019 Everton's Seamus Coleman scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Goodison Park warmly applauded Everton's players on a lap of appreciation, reward for their impressive form in 2019.

If league leaders Manchester City win the FA Cup, the team that finishes seventh in the standings will qualify for the Europa League.

"We've ended the season well, at the mid-point of the season we were very poor," Coleman told Sky Sports.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Burnley - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 3, 2019 Everton's Seamus Coleman celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

"For periods of the season the fans were frustrated with how we were playing and that's understandable.

"We wanted to finish in seventh, maybe top six and going forward that's what we've got to aim for. This club needs a trophy and with this manager and this set of players we have to aim for it."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Burnley - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 3, 2019 Burnley manager Sean Dyche as Everton manager Marco Silva looks on REUTERS/Andrew Yates

(Writing by Rik Sharma, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Burnley - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 3, 2019 Everton manager Marco Silva Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Burnley - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 3, 2019 Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin in action with Burnley's Ben Mee Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Burnley - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 3, 2019 Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin shoots at goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Burnley - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 3, 2019 Everton's Morgan Schneiderlin in action with Burnley's Chris Wood Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Burnley - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 3, 2019 Everton's Gylfi Sigurdsson in action with Burnley's Ben Mee Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff