SEAN Dyche insists Burnley’s Boxing Day defeat to Everton last season will not be needed as motivation today.

The 5-1 reverse at Turf Moor acted as a watershed in the 2018-19 campaign as the Clarets pulled themselves away from danger.

Now the Toffees are back in East Lancashire with that result fresh in the mind of many.

“No, I don't need to (use it as motivation),” said Dyche.

“The players are motivated. It was actually the turning point of the season and I think we all realigned after that so there were a lot of positives came out of that game in a strange kind of way.

“It wasn't an enjoyable game for us at the time but looking back it was something that gives a kick-start into the second half of the season and you all know the story from then on in and it’s still going on now because I think we've been strong in the early part of this season as well.

“I think the players are motivated here, I mentioned in pre-season that I could see the fire in their eyes and I could see the urgency and the demand in their training.

“It doesn't guarantee (anything) but it gives you a way better chance.”

Everton boss Marco Silva heads to Turf Moor as a man under pressure with his side having lost their last three in the league but Dyche is only concerned by how his own side perform.

“The demands of the game are forever higher, the demands within clubs are forever higher, it's just the way it is,” said the Clarets boss.

“I'm sure he's working diligently to try and help his side to perform like all managers do. I'm not really that worried about other people, I tend to concern myself with me, my staff, the players and this club and I focus on that.

“As an outside view I just think that pressure is the demands of the job nowadays.”