Post-match mood
The away end at Turf Moor went through the whole range of emotions on Wednesday evening. But it was very clear to see what the feeling was after the full-time whistle.
In the 89th minute, the cameras panned to the Everton fans in a windy, rainy Burnley - and there were heads in hands all round. One supporter had their face fully pointed at the floor, not even bringing themselves to watch as they came to terms to what had just taken place in front of them.
At the beginning of the match those who had travelled from Merseyside were in fantastic spirits despite the abject results they have been served up on their travels this term.
Six points gained away from home is the worst record in the Premier League. Nobody needs to be reminded of that fact, of course, but it's probably worth making a note of considering the real upbeat mood that was achieved throughout large portions of this game.
At half-time, with their side in front having initially gone behind at Turf Moor, the name of Frank Lampard was being sang by those in the away end. By the time the full time whistle came around, the mood was very different.
It was truly sombre. Even across social media and for those sitting at home, this was a real punch in the gut.
If it hadn't already become very real that Everton were right in the midst of a relegation scrap that they really might not win, now was the time it dawned on absolutely everyone. The devastation on those faces in the crowd were clear for all to see.
In their last 23 matches in the top division, the Blues have managed to pick up just 12 points. Whatever way you look at it, that is relegation form.
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But it doesn't stop those in the away end caring with everything they have. They've been dragged through the mire, through pathetic performances everywhere across the country, and yet they still pick themselves up and come back to support their team.
That is absolutely commendable, and usually they get the support on the pitch from players and staff after the match even if they have been met with differing levels of anger in return in the past.
This time, though, there were no such gestures. Having dropped to the floor en masse after the final whistle, the playing squad largely gave the away section a wide berth - as did Lampard has he walked back across the pitch and towards the dressing room.
That can only go down as a mistake. Whatever happens on the pitch, whatever reaction you might be about to receive from those supporters who give you everything through thick and thin, they need to be acknowledged in some capacity.
They certainly aren't getting the rewards on the pitch. Many might be wondering why they're even bothering with their travels at this stage.
Not even VAR
Ironically, given what has happened in the last few weeks and months of the campaign, not even a favourable VAR decision for Everton could save them this time.
The Blues have probably given up counting just how many of those calls have gone against them in the past. Not even marginal ones, even some of the most obvious decisions have seemingly gone against them.
This time, however, there can be no complaints about the officials or the big decisions they made. Yes, Mike Dean might not have let the game flow in some situations, but that's just the way with some referees.
When it came down to the big call, Everton fans probably wouldn't have been too hopeful. Vitalii Mykolenko went down under a challenge inside the area by Aaron Lennon as he tried to turn, and his appeals were waved away by the referee.
His remonstrations even earned some boos and chants of "cheat" from the Burnley supporters as they were convinced there was no offence committed by their player. But then, VAR advised Dean to go and have a look at the monitor on the far side of the pitch.
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Even at this stage, Evertonians likely would have been too bothered. He's not going to give it, that's just the way this season has gone.
But he did give it, and Richarlison made no mistake in smashing it into the back of the net. So why am I bringing this up in a game the Blues disappointingly lost?
Well, this was evidence of a piece of luck finally turning in Everton's favour. Those decisions have been credited with Lampard's side losing a lot of points, and rightly so in some scenarios.
But, even with that going their way, it still wasn't enough. You cannot rely on penalties, or general decisions from officials, to swing results in your favour.
Everton need to find another way to do that. Of course we all hope those decisions do go their way for the rest of the campaign, but they're going to need a whole lot more to keep winning.
Richarlison conundrum
There's no doubting Richarlison was clearly Everton's best player on Wednesday evening. When he's in that kind of form, any defender in world football would do well to stop him.
Frustratingly, the Blues haven't been treated to those displays on a regular enough basis over the course of this season. He's the kind of player whose individual performances were to be relied on to drag his side out of the mire, and he was so close to doing that on this occasion.
So agonisingly close. And yet still so far at the same time.
On the one hand, the Brazilian really was electric at times throughout this game. Connor Roberts could hardly contain him in the first period, as his constant tenacity and skill in cutting in from the left flank was managing to cause the Burnley defence a whole host of issues.
Aside from his two penalties, which were very confidently converted after he snatched the responsibility from Dominic Calvert-Lewin for this match, he had another attempt which was deflected over the bar which might have caused a lot more trouble on another day.
He was being lauded by many following the game for his display in the opening 45 minutes, not just for his creativity but for his hard work and tenacity throughout.
All of that continued in the second period, and he regularly looked the most likely player to find the back of the net for his side after the interval. But, frustratingly, he didn't.
And that's really the problem, isn't it? He scored two penalties which is great, but he had a gaping opportunity to bag his hat-trick early in the second-half and potentially put a result beyond Sean Dyche's side and squandered it.
He is not to blame for the Blues losing this match, of course he isn't. In fact, he and Alex Iwobi were the only reasons Everton kept the match as close as it was.
But he left the pitch in tears after the game. He can be proud of his effort levels, but how he will still be rueing that miss early in the second half.
Still, if Richarlison plays that well in the remainder of Everton's matches this season they'll stand a much better chance of staying up.
Defensive mishaps
How many times can this happen? What does Lampard even do to stop it?
There's only so many times that it can be written that Everton make far too many individual mistakes for their own good, and that is constantly proving to be their downfall.
Ben Godfrey was the culprit this time around in the most obvious sense, losing track of his feet inside the box and having the ball bounce off him before Maxwell Cornet struck the killing blow to the Blues.
But realistically it was a comedy of errors before that. Why did Jonjoe Kenny take it upon himself to have a speculative shot from 30 yards? Why couldn't Jordan Pickford have connected with a right-footed clearance by the touchline instead of slicing it out of play?
How does this change? Is it concentration? Tactics? Confidence?
Whatever it is, if Everton keep making these sorts of errors, they will be playing Championship football next season. If these players are good enough for this club, they need to start showing it right now.
