There are six Premier League clubs to have never been relegated from the Premier League but that record is under threat as we reach the final weekend of the season with Everton needing three points to guarantee their safety, or hope other results go their way.
Sean Dyche took over Everton in early February and has since overseen four wins and six draws from his 17 league matches in charge. Their home form hasn’t been as positive as hoped but remarkably, Dyche has only managed one game at Goodison Park against a bottom half team, a 2-0 victory against fellow survival hopefuls Leeds United, and they will hope for a similar result against a Bournemouth side that have lost their last three.
This is a hugely important clash as the season comes to a close and we’ve collated all the data and resources you need to create an Everton vs Bournemouth bet builder. that can improve your enjoyment of the season finale. For information on how to build your bet builder, check out our stats pack guide and read below to find our bet builder tips.
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EVERTON VS BOURNEMOUTH PREDICTED LINEUPS
Full back changes expected for Everton
Sean Dyche has had real difficulties fielding a consistent back four amid injury problems and we are likely to see more changes on Sunday. Dwight McNeil has played at left back recently but his attacking qualities will be required further forward with Dominic Calvert-Lewin unavailable, while on the right, Michael Keane could replace the injured Nathan Patterson.
Bournemouth to start Brooks once more
Bournemouth have been able to relax for the final few games of the season after securing their survival and it has enabled one of the most positive stories of the season to take place – David Brooks starting football matches again. It’s on the other flank we are most likely to see a change, Jaidon Anthony replaced by winger Dango Ouattara.
EVERTON VS BOURNEMOUTH TEAM STATS
Everton’s underperformance in front of goal has cost them
It’s little surprise that Everton have underperformed in front of goal given their only true Premier League quality striker has missed virtually the entire campaign, but to be –0.3 goals per game under their xGF is quite something. The high number of cards accrued can point to both their lack of structure in possession and the aggressive, somewhat old-school nature of their approach.
Bournemouth concede a lot of shots
To their credit, Bournemouth have survived and done so in superb fashion after putting together a fine run. However, their xGA numbers are amongst the worst in the division, only Leeds United have conceded more goals and they have conceded almost 50 more shots than any other team in the league. The number of corners they concede doesn’t help – over seven per game.
EVERTON VS BOURNEMOUTH SHOTS AND SHOTS ON TARGET STATS
Everton looking to centre backs to step up
The late equaliser against Wolves last time out was unique in that all three centre backs combined to get the job done – somewhat necessary given their forwards’ struggles in front of goal. Improving from set-pieces has clearly been part of the Dyche plan – Yerry Mina has had a shot on target in four of his last five starts while James Tarkowski has had a shot in 12 of 17 matches under Dyche and at least one in each of his last four.
O’Neil relying heavily upon Solanke
Dominic Solanke has finally made himself a leading Premier League striker and he has been heavily relied upon by Gary O’Neil. Ryan Christie has replaced Phillip Billing in the attacking midfield position of late and had at least one shot in his last eight and two or more in four of those.
EVERTON VS BOURNEMOUTH GOALS AND ASSISTS STATS
McNeil stepping up for Everton
The rumour mill suggested Dwight McNeil wouldn’t want to play for Sean Dyche following a falling out at Burnley. The winger has put that to bed and then some, kicking into gear with six goals and two assists in his 17 matches under Dyche and he is likely to return to the left wing after a short spell at left back here. Elsewhere, Demarai Gray has always been capable of the spectacular and is available at 2.63 to score.
Solanke the Cherry up top for Bournemouth
It’s been quite the season for Dominic Solanke. Previously something of a laughing stock following difficulties at various top clubs, the striker has matured and led the line excellently for Bournemouth with 13 goal contributions, including three goals and three assists in seven matches to help secure their safety. Phillip Billing is a loss in midfield but Jefferson Lerma has proven himself capable of finding the net with five goals.
EVERTON VS BOURNEMOUTH PASSING STATS
Full backs seeing the ball for Everton
What happens when two teams who don’t want the ball play each other? Passing selections may not be your friend in an Everton vs Bournemouth bet builder. Still, if you do want to look at selections, the Everton starting left back may be of value – an Everton left back has attempted at least 50 passes in a couple of the matches the Toffees have seen at least 45% of the ball in.
Zabarnyi giving Bournemouth a different route out of defence
Generally speaking, Bournemouth want the ball even less than Everton – they have averaged less than 40% of the ball across the season. In 20-year-old Illia Zabarnyi, they appear to have a footballer that does want to try and build from the back. The Ukrainian has attempted 66 and 56 passes in his two starts – nobody else in a Bournemouth shirt averages over 44 passes per 90 minutes played.
EVERTON CARDS AND FOULS STATS
Midfielders the obvious selection for Everton
If you want to go with the tried and tested then Everton’s midfield are your best bet, Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye commit over 1.4 fouls per 90 each and in the former’s absence, James Garner was committing two or more fouls most weeks. The better value pick for your bet builder is likely to be Demarai Gray, the forward has committed a foul in seven of his last eight starts and two or more fouls in four of those.
Gray will likely be up against Zabarnyi, who we have established likes to progress the ball out of defence and has been fouled in both of his league starts. Elsewhere, Ryan Christie will be playing in the hole behind Dominic Solanke and has been on the end of a foul in eight of his last nine starts – he will be surrounded by that Everton midfield.
Everton vs Bournemouth Key Matchups
Idrissa Gueye vs Ryan Christie
Yerry Mina vs Dominic Solanke
Demarai Gray vs Illia Zabarnyi
BOURNEMOUTH CARDS AND FOULS STATS
Senesi following the Argentinian path at Bournemouth
When you sign an Argentinian centre-back, you should have an idea of what to expect and Marco Senesi is proving that at Bournemouth, growing into his role at the club and now committing fouls on a regular basis – he has committed at least one in his last seven starts. Dominic Solanke hasn’t been afraid to put himself about at the other end, committing at least two fouls in four of his last five starts.
Demarai Gray is likely to fill the void up top but he is a pacy, tricky winger by trade and that shows in the number of fouls he draws, thankful for the referee’s whistle in seven of his last eight matches and at least twice in six of those. Everton’s midfield like to make a tackle but are also adept at drawing them – Idrissa Gueye has been fouled at least twice in four of his last five matches, the exception in that run coming against Manchester City.
Everton vs Bournemouth Key Matchups
Marco Senesi vs Demarai Gray
Dominic Solanke vs Yerry Mina
Ryan Christie vs Idrissa Gueye
Everton vs Bournemouth Bet Builder Tips and Picks of the Pack
A massive game for Everton, and it should make this one a tantillising prospect for a bet builder. You can check out my selections below.
Everton vs Bournemouth
28th May
kick off 16:30 Everton over 4.5 corners
Everton had 7 or more corners in 3 of last 4 matches
Everton pushing for a result in front of a home crowd and will want to win as many set-pieces as possible
Bournemouth allowed 5 or more corners in last 9 matches
Everton over 1.5 cardsEverton averaging 2.22 cards per game
Everton have collected 2 or more cards in 12 of 17 matches under Dyche
Importance of game means cards for time wasting or stopping counter-attacks are likely
Demarai Gray 1+ foulsGray has committed an average of 0.86 fouls per 90 minutes
Gray has committed a foul in 7 of 8 starts under Dyche
Zabarnyi seeing a lot of the ball and has drawn a foul in both league starts
Marcos Senesi 1+ foulsSenesi averaging 1.01 fouls per 90 minutes
Senesi has committed a foul in last 7 starts
Gray fouled 1.82 times per 90 minutes
Demarai Gray fouled in 7 of 8 starts and 2 or more times in 6 of 8 starts
