Bournemouth will host Everton at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, looking to build on their recent results with a positive performance at home.
Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last three league games, winning two of those, and they will fancy their chances of grinding out a positive result against Everton when the two sides face off at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Toffees are 16th in the league table, and they are on a winless run. They could easily be dragged into the relegation battle if they continue to falter. They will be desperate to bounce back strongly, and it remains to be seen whether they can grind out a win away from home.
Bournemouth will be aiming for a top-half finish, and they need to win these games. The Cherries have done well against Everton in recent years. However, the Toffees picked up a 3-0 win over the Cherries earlier in the season, and the home team will look to avenge that defeat.
Team News & Tactics
Bournemouth
Ryan Fredericks and Luis Sinisterra are ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with calf and thigh injuries, respectively. James Hill misses out with an ankle injury, and Marcos Senesi is sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Bournemouth will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Adam Smith and Dango Ouattara in the full-back positions. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Illia Zabarnyi will start at the heart of the defence alongside Chris Mepham. Neto is set to start in goal for the home side.
As for the midfield unit, Ryan Christie will start alongside Lewis Cook in the double pivot. The two players will look to add defensive cover and control from the deep. Alex Scott will start in the central attacking midfield role, and he will look to link up with Dominic Solanke in the final third. Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier will start as the wingers. They will look to add width, pace and flair to the side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith, Mepham, Zabarnyi, Ouattara; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Scott, Tavernier; Solanke
Everton
The visitors will be without Dele Alli because of a groin injury and Arnaut Danjuma because of an ankle injury. They will shape up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal.
Ben Godfrey and Vitaliy Mykolenko will start as the full-backs, and they will look to keep things compact defensively and join the attack during transitions. James Tarkowski will start alongside Jarrad Branthwaite in the central defensive pairing.
In the middle of the park, James Garner and Amadou Onana will add defensive cover to the side. Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil will add pace and width to the side from the flanks. Abdoulaye Doucoure will start as the central attacking midfielder, and he will look to link the midfield with the attack. Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line for Everton against Bournemouth.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Garner, Onana, McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert Lewin
Key Stats
- Everton managed to win the last meeting between these two teams 3-0.
- Bournemouth ended their three-match winless run at home with a win over Luton last time out.
- Bournemouth have not lost in their last seven home meetings against Everton.
- Everton are winless in their last 11 league matches.
- Everton have only scored once in their last five away matches.
Player to Watch
Dominic Solanke
The 26-year-old striker has 15 goals in the Premier League this season, and he will look to add to his tally. He managed to score against Luton Town in the last game and will look to punish a vulnerable Everton defence here. Everton will need to be careful defensively against the in-form Bournemouth striker.
Prediction
Bournemouth 2-1 Everton
The Cherries will be desperate for a win here. They were beaten comprehensively by Everton earlier this season, and the home team will look to avenge that defeat. They are undoubtedly the better team on current form, and this will be a difficult contest for Everton.
The visitors need to pick up points if they want to guarantee their safety this season, and they will look to put on an improved display here. This is likely to be a close contest, but the Cherries should be able to grind out all three points eventually. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Andoni Iraola and his charges.