Bournemouth welcome Everton to the Vitaly Stadium in this weekend’s opening Super Sunday Premier League clash.
A two goal victory margin will see Bournemouth climb into the top ten whilst Everton could go third with a win.
Team news
Bournemouth could have Lewis Cook available for the first time this season, after several months sidelined with a serious knee injury.
Adam Smith (hamstring) and Chris Mepham (muscle) are also set to be available for selection
Lloyd Kelly is ruled out but he has stepped up his recovery by returning to first-team training this week.
Arnaut Danjuma (foot), David Brooks (ankle), Dan Gosling (groin), Simon Francis, Charlie Daniels and Junior Stanislas (all knee) remain sidelined.
Everton have a near full squad available for selection as summer signings, Jean-Phillipe Gbamin (muscle) and Jonas Lossl (calf) remain sidelined.
Form
Bournemouth enter this game with four points from their opening four matches, having scored and conceded in all four fixtures and lost their last two outings by 3-1 results.
Everton arrive on the South Coast with seven points on the board although they have scored in just three of their five outings in all competitions, with Richarlison netting in his last two against Lincoln and Wolves.
Stat Attack
- Bournemouth have lost three of their six Premier League meetings with Everton (W2, D1, L3).
- The home team have scored at least twice in each of their last five meetings, with both sides finding the net in four of those meetings.
- Everton’s last ten goals in this fixture have all come after half-time.
- Lucas Digne has already made two assists in four games for Everton this season, compared to four assists in 35 appearances last season.
- Bournemouth’s central defence pairing of Nathan Ake and Steve Cook have made 12 blocks between them in four matches with six blocks each, compared to Everton’s seven from Michael Keane (5) and Yerry Mina (2).
Prediction
Bournemouth have done a solid job so far in the face of their injury crisis but they need to raise their defensive performance because Everton will poise a similar challenge to that of Leicester last time out.
I however have my concerns about the Toffees because they lacked a clinical edge in their two away games last month, which is a worry against a equally strong Bournemouth attack who will be hungry to finally get their first home win of the season.
Add in the fact that this fixture hasn’t been short of goals then I am expecting a tough but crazy game with Bournemouth just edging it.
Prediction: Bournemouth 3-2 Everton
Result: Bournemouth 3-1 Everton