Everton back on track
On Sunday at 2.15PM it's time for Everton to show us what they're made of. They'll host a Bournemouth that are suffering from a cataclysmic run of form away from home. Three points is really the only acceptable outcome for the Toffees here.
Everton
Everton need to move on from their awful December, and if they don't change things soon, then Silva's position at the club may be called into question. Hopefully though they have learnt their lesson, and will start to climb up the table again. They haven't won any of their last four games at Goodison Park, but this has often been down to sloppy play rather than lack of quality. The deserved 2-6 loss to Spurs won't be forgotten easily, but in the other games they have claimed a higher expected goals than their opponents, but they just haven't been able to convert their opportunities.
Everton haven't won any of their last four games at Goodison Park
Despite their recent difficulties, Everton still have a goal difference of 1.64 goals scored and 1.45 goals conceded over the whole season and in this regard they sit in the upper half of the table. There is a huge amount of quality in the squad, both up front and at the back; Richarlison, Digne and Sigurdsson to name but a few. They head into this match injury free.
- League Position: 11
Bournemouth
To say Bournemouth are a different team at home compared to away is an understatement. At home they are dangerous in attack and control the ball well; away from home they are hopeless and often suffer heavy defeats. They have lost their last five matches, and over these five matches they have generated a goal difference of 3-16! Their average goals over the whole season are 1.20 scored and 1.30 conceded. According to their expected goals, they should have done a little better, but still not enough to disqualify them from this awful run of form.
They have lost their last five matches with a goal difference of 3-16!
What is scaring their manager Eddie Howe at the moment is their lengthy injury list, especially since they do not have any reliable replacements on the bench. Their strength still lies in their attack, but even their injured new signing, Solanke can do little to improve this side. Their injuries have simply added fuel to the fire. The fact that three of their four first-choice defenders are currently injured and Bournemouth prefer to play out from the back has only made the situation worse.
- League Position: 12
Betting tips
Everton is a team full of potential and a team brimming with quality. They have not had a good run of form recently and now it's really time to change this. Injury-riddled Bournemouth are the perfect team for the Toffee's to meet now, in part because they have always found this an easy game, but also because of their weakened defensive line. This should be an excellent opportunity for players like Sigurdsson and Richarlison to show what they are really made of. I will bet on an outright win for Everton at odds of 3/4.
