Everton will host Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend, looking to bounce back from their defeat at home against Luton Town.
Everton have lost five of their seven Premier League matches so far and they will be under tremendous pressure to bounce back strongly when they taken on Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.
A home game against the Cherries should be winnable for them, and Sean Dyche will demand a strong performance from his players. Meanwhile, Bournemouth are coming into this game on the back of a seven-match winless run in the league.
The Cherries are yet to pick up a single victory in the Premier League, and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset at Goodison Park. They have done well against Everton in the recent past and will look to grind out a positive result here.
Weekend focus. 📆 pic.twitter.com/SZ0HzutBXu
— Everton (@Everton) October 2, 2023
Team News and Tactics
Everton
The home side will be without the services of Dele Alli, who has been ruled out with a groin injury. Seamus Coleman is also out with a knee injury, and both players are expected to return later this month.
The home side are likely to shape up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal. Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to keep the defence compact and help out in transitions. Jarrad Branthwaite will start at the heart of the defence alongside James Tarkowski.
In the midfield, Amadou Onana should start alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure. The two players will look to add defensive cover and drive in the middle of the park.
Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison are likely to be deployed as the wingers. The two players will look to add pace and creativity from the wide areas Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line for the home side along with summer signing Beto.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Pickford; Patterson, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; McNeil, Onana, Doucoure, Harrison; Beto, Calvert-Lewin
Bournemouth
The Cherries have a number of injury issues to deal with. Tyler Adams has been ruled out until February, Ryan Fredericks misses out with a calf injury along with Lloyd Kelly, who has a similar problem.
Chris Mepham, Alex Scott and Emiliano Hansen are ruled out with injuries as well, and all three players are expected to return later this month. Bournemouth are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Neto in goal. Max Aarons and Milos Kerkez will be deployed as the full-backs.
Illia Zabarnyi will start alongside Marcos Senesi in the central defence. Bournemouth will look to defend deep and make it difficult for Everton to find a way past them. Joe Rothwell and Lewis Cook will start in the central midfield, and the two players will look to protect the central defenders and keep things compact in the middle.
Marcus Tavernier and Luis Sinisterra are likely to be deployed as the wingers here, and they will look to create goalscoring opportunities for their teammates. Dominic Solanke will lead the line here, with Philip Billing deployed in the attacking midfield role behind him.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neto; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Rothwell, Cook; Tavernier, Billing, Sinisterra; Solanke
Key Stats
- Bournemouth have failed to win their last 11 matches in the Premier League.
- Everton have won five of their last six home matches against Bournemouth in all competitions.
- Bournemouth have conceded at least two goals in five of their last six matches in the Premier League.
- 19 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
Player to Watch
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The Everton striker is in impressive form right now scoring in his last three matches across all competitions. He will look to continue his impressive run of form and get on the scoresheet against a vulnerable Bournemouth defence.
The 26-year-old has had his fair share of injury problems, and he will look to get back to his best now. He is our key player to watch out for this weekend. Expect another eye-catching performance by Calvert-Lewin, who is making up for lost time.
Prediction
Everton 2-1 Bournemouth
Everton are undoubtedly the better team on paper, and they should be able to grind out all three points here. They will be motivated after the defeat to Luton Town at Goodison Park.
The home fans will be expecting a strong reaction from the players and the Toffees certainly have the quality to come out on top here. Bournemouth are quite vulnerable defensively and their defence is likely to let them down once again. A narrow 2-1 home win is on the cards.