The stakes couldn’t be higher for Everton as they welcome Bournemouth to Goodison Park for their ultimate Premier League clash of the season. Even though Everton’s form has been shaky, they’re predicted to gain the upper hand over Bournemouth, who seem to have already mentally checked into their offseason break.
Everton’s campaign this season has been disappointingly poor, and they find themselves tangled in the relegation battle as they head into the final match. However, among the three teams facing the drop, they alone control their fate: a win on Sunday guarantees their survival, regardless of results elsewhere.
In their previous game, Everton demonstrated tenacity by coming back to secure a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Yerry Mina’s last-minute equalizer offered Everton a glimmer of hope leading into the final week.
Everton’s recent performances remain inconsistent, with defensive frailties leading to just one clean sheet in the past ten matches. Nevertheless, manager Sean Dyche will be reminding his players of their recent 5-1 victory against Brighton and a 1-0 home win over Arsenal.
Bournemouth, on the other hand, come to Goodison Park off a 1-0 home loss to Manchester United in their previous Premier League match. The loss marked Bournemouth’s third consecutive defeat, indicating they may have prematurely shifted into holiday mode after ensuring their survival several weeks ago. Managed by Gary O’Neil, Bournemouth has little at stake on Sunday, as they cannot climb higher than 13th in the standings.
Bet365 prices Everton as strong favourites with odds of 4/9 for a home win. A victory for Bournemouth is valued at 13/2 by Betway, while 888sport sets odds of 7/2 for a draw.
Recent Head-to-Head Bournemouth has been in control in recent clashes with Everton, claiming victory in the last four matches. The Cherries won both games this season, scoring a 4-1 victory in an FA Cup match before delivering a 3-0 triumph in the Premier League.
Players to Watch Everton’s top scorer Dwight McNeil, with seven Premier League goals, is one to watch. McNeil has scored four times in the past seven matches, and 888sport offers odds of 17/5 for him to continue his scoring streak. Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke could also be a potential threat. The striker, with six Premier League goals this season, is tipped by bet365 at 10/3 to find the net on Sunday.
