Everton have Premier League survival in their own hands against Bournemouth at Goodison Park, on the final day of 2022-23 Premier League season.
Victory would guarantee survival for Everton although a draw would be enough if Leeds and Leicester fail to win elsewhere, whilst Bournemouth can finish 13th with a win if West Ham and Wolves both lose elsewhere.
Team News
Conor Coady will be eligible for Everton in their final match of the season, having missed their 1-1 draw at Wolves due to the terms of his loan deal.
Vitaliy Myokolenko (quad) could return but Nathan Patterson (hamstring) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (groin) are both ruled out, having been substituted at Molineux last weekend.
Ben Godfrey (groin), Seamus Coleman (knee), Ruben Vinagre (Achilles), Tom Davies (hamstring) and Andros Townsend (knee) remain absent.
Bournemouth will welcome midfielder, Philip Billing back into contention after he missed their defeat against Manchester United with a back injury.
Hamed Traore (foot) and Joe Rothwell (thigh) are doubts and could face late fitness tests.
Marcus Tavernier (hamstring), Antoine Semenyo (leg), Ryan Fredericks (calf) and Junior Stanislas (unspecified) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Everton host Bournemouth at 4:30pm BST on Sunday 28 May at Goodison Park, live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Everton have won just one of their last six league meetings against Bournemouth (W1, D1, L4).
- Bournemouth have won just one of their last five league visits to Everton (W1, L4).
- Bournemouth’s Jaidon Anthony has scored in each of his two appearances in all competitions against Everton this season (W2)
- Sean Dyche’s Toffees have conceded three goals in each of their last three league meetings against Bournemouth (L3).
- Everton have won just one of their last six home matches at Goodison Park (W1, D1, L4).
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in three of their last four away matches (W3, L1).
Prediction
Having benefitted from an electric home atmosphere in their successful avoidance of relegation last season via a dramatic win in their last home game of that campaign, Everton now face a nervy final day showdown against Bournemouth who know about this territory from their last top-flight season.
Funnily enough in that particular season – it was Bournemouth who needed a final-day win at Everton which they got despite still going down, so there is a slight reversal irony in that it’s now Everton needing the win to stay up but at least the Toffees have their fate in their own hands here.
Win and they will survive irrespective of results elsewhere but with Patterson and Calvert-Lewin amongst a lengthy injury list, Everton will need something special if they’re to survive after scrappily snatching a draw at Wolves amidst wasteful finishing which has been a huge issue for them all season.
Bournemouth meanwhile are safe but despite their poor away record at Everton, they currently have the better record and I don’t expect them to roll over here, having suffered a narrow home loss to Man Utd last weekend where they just lacked a crucial end product in a positive display.
Either way, the chances of a goalless draw looks unlikely but a part of me feels like Everton must get the first goal – otherwise their fate could be swung out of their own hands because I can see Bournemouth giving them a hard game and snatching something if are clinical up front.
Prediction: Everton 1-1 Bournemouth
Result: Everton 1-0 Bournemouth
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