Bournemouth vs Everton Preview: Team News & Prediction
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AFC Bournemouth will believe they have a real chance of European qualification this season as they welcome a stubborn but relegation-threatened Everton down to the south coast this week.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 4th January, 2025: UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Universo
Bournemouth Preview: Cherries on the push
Former Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola is in charge of an impressive AFC Bournemouth side that play an intense style of pressing football that has the Cherries punching above their weight as they seek a potential top six or seven finish and European qualification this season.
They had an inconsistent festive period with a 3-0 hammering of Manchester United at Old Trafford being followed up by a frustrating goalless draw against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and then the need for a last gasp equaliser to earn a point at Fulham a few days later.
Everton Preview: Sticky Toffees
Sean Dyche eased the pressure on himself with Everton avoiding defeats against Arsenal, Chelsea and then Manchester City over the festive period but the Toffees’ inability to score goals or produce wins, as well as the takeover of the club, leaves him in a precarious position.
The Toffees begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just a couple of points and a couple of places outside of the bottom three and the relegation places. They were most recently comfortably defeated 2-0 by Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park last weekend.
Bournemouth Team News: Kluivert returns from suspension
Andoni Iraola has confirmed that injury prone central midfielder Tyler Adams is fit and available to play for the Cherries this weekend. Justin Kluivert has returned from suspension, too. The likes of Adam Smith, Marcus Tavernier and Luis Sinisterra have begun light training ahead of their respective returns.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Ouattara, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson
Unavailable: Senesi (Injured), Smith (Fitness), Araujo (Injured), Scott (Injured), Tavernier (Fitness), Sinisterra (Fitness)
Questionable:
Everton Team News: McNeil unlikely to feature
Sean Dyche has been hopeful on the fitness of Dwight McNeil in recent weeks but the former Burnley winger is once again unlikely to be available this weekend. Club captain Seamus Coleman is also unavailable due to a calf issue.
Predicted XI (4-5-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Doucoure, Gueye, Mangala, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
Unavailable: Coleman (Injured), Garner (Injured), Iroegbunam (Injured)
Questionable: McNeil (Injured)
Bournemouth vs Everton Prediction
Bournemouth, albeit left frustrated with those aforementioned draws over the festive period, are now unbeaten in their last seven matches as they try and propel themselves into the top six. They now face an Everton side that were looking at a potentially disastrous December but generally managed to avoid that, albeit they remain very much in danger and a Bournemouth win, especially at the Vitality Stadium, is the likeliest outcome for this one.
Bournemouth vs Everton Tip: Bournemouth to win
