Everton will have their Premier League destiny in their own hands when they take on Bournemouth in a tense season finale at Goodison Park.
One of English football’s iconic teams, Everton will take on Bournemouth on Sunday as they bid to shake off fears of relegation from the English Premier League.
The Toffees are one of six teams not to have experienced relegation in the Premier League era. Having escaped the drop by the skin of their teeth last season, one would have expected them to be better prepared this time around. Unfortunately, they now go into the final day knowing full well that dropping down to the Championship remains a possibility.
Sean Dyche’s men, however, have their destiny in their own hands and will face off against a Bournemouth side with little to play for. The visitors have already secured their Premier League status and should have little motivation to go all out on the night.
As long as Everton secure all three points on the night, Leicester City and Leeds United will go down at their expense. The Toffees can also retain their top-flight status by drawing as long as Leicester and Leeds fail to win their games.
Leeds United face Tottenham Hotspur at home and have the trickiest game of the three teams in the fray for the drop. Leicester, meanwhile, faces a West Ham United side that will have its eye on the upcoming UEFA Europa Conference League final vs ACF Fiorentina.
Should the Foxes score first on the night, Goodison Park will hold its breath for a result. Everton have managed some great escapes over the last few decades and will hope that their luck has not run out. Any slip-up on the night and the consequences could be dire.
Everton lost 3-1 to Bournemouth on the final day of the 2019/20 season at home. Goodison Park will hope that a deja vu isn’t on the cards. The blue half of Merseyside will hold its breath with much more than pride on the line for one of English football’s oldest teams. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nathan Patterson will not be available for #EVEBOU, but Vitalii Mykolenko will be assessed tomorrow.
Watch live: https://t.co/ptNh0UV4YR pic.twitter.com/CDrNQMXo5j
— Everton (@Everton) May 26, 2023
Sean Dyche’s men are on a three-game losing streak at home and have a poor record on the final day of the season in recent times. In fact, the Merseyiders have lost six of their last seven final-day fixtures, including the last three in a row.
A win will guarantee their survival in the Premier League at least for another season while anything lesser than that will see them dependent on results elsewhere. With their destiny in their own hands, Everton go into the final day as the side best placed to secure Premier League survival.
Given their inability to find the back of the net consistently, the loss of Dominic Calvert-Lewin to injury is a major blow. With Nathan Patterson also ruled out alongside Seamus Coleman, Dyche has decisions to make at right back and also upfront.
Ben Godfrey is expected to be sidelined while Conor Coady will return after sitting out the game vs Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ruben Vinagre and Andros Townsend are also expected to be out for the game. Dyche is likely to deploy his side in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal.
Michael Keane should serve as a makeshift right-back with Vitaliy Mykolenko occupying the other flank. Last weekend’s hero, Yerry Mina, and James Tarkowski will form the centre-back pairing and will need to get their act together on the night.
The duo of Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana will form the double pivot, with the latter pushing forward when given the opportunity. The trio of Alex Iwobi, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Dwight McNeil will play further upfield with Demarai Gray starting upfield. Neal Maupay should start on the bench but is expected to be brought on if Everton fall behind.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Keane, Mina, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Gueye, Onana; Iwobi, Doucoure, McNeil; Gray
Bournemouth
The Cherries have already secured Premier League survival and manager Gary O’Neil is already looking forward to the 2023/24 season. With Everton likely to get stuck in and take no prisoners, it will not come as a surprise if Bournemouth opts to take a safety-first approach.
The visitors will want to avoid any injuries and have little other than pride to play for. In many ways, one could argue that they are the ideal opponents for Everton given the circumstances, at least on paper.
Hamed Traore and Philip Billing did not feature against Manchester United but are now back in training. They are in contention to take to the field at Goodison Park. Marcus Tavernier is ruled out of the game alongside long-term absentees Ryan Fredericks and Junior Stanislas, while Joe Rothwell will face a late fitness test to judge his availability.
Looking ahead to #EVEBOU 🗣 pic.twitter.com/pY8lvpM8RM
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) May 26, 2023
Bournemouth are likely to deploy in a 4-2-3-1 formation that is freely flexible. They should shift to a 4-5-1 when not in possession and hope to catch Everton on the counter as they stream forward.
Neto should start in goal behind the back four of Adam Smith, Illya Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, and Matias Vina. Lewis Cook and Jefferson Lerma will form the double pivot and can expect a pitched battle against their Everton counterparts.
David Brooks and Dango Ouattara should start out wide with Ryan Christie acting as the number ten. Former Liverpool star Dominic Solanke should lead the line and will hope to put his former rivals to the sword.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Vina; Cook, Lerma; Brooks; Christie, Ouattara, Solanke
Key Stats
- Everton have failed to win any of their final games of the Premier League campaign in the last three years. Curiously this includes a 3-1 reversal against Bournemouth in 2020.
- Bournemouth have won their last three games against Everton, scoring three goals on all occasions.
- The last time Bournemouth were in the Premier League, they beat Everton 3-1 in their final game of the season.
- Everton are winless in their last four Premier League home games, losing three in the process and drawing another.
- Everton have the third-worst attack in the league this season, scoring just 33 times over 37 games.
Player to Watch
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Having signed a one-year extension that will keep him at Goodison Park for another year, Doucoure will have all the incentive in the world to ensure the Toffees secure their Premier League status.
The Mali international was the standout player against Brighton and is a regular fixture in the Everton playing XI over the past few weeks. His energy and ability to drive forward is a major asset for a side that has struggled to score goals all campaign.
Largely deployed as a number ten, Doucoure is expected to act as Everton’s driving force in an attack on the night. Any chance the home side have of scoring is likely to have his involvement.
Prediction
Everton 1-1 Bournemouth
Everton have lacked quality and consistency all season, struggling to get the result over the line over the course of the campaign. Bournemouth have little to play more and may not be up for a fight, but have the quality to hurt the Toffees. The game is likely to end in a scored draw with Everton relying on results elsewhere to secure their future.
