Venue: Vitality Stadium
Date: 30/12/2017
Kick-off: 15:00 (BST)
Everton prepare to travel to the Vitality Stadium to square off against Bournemouth on Saturday and the Toffees will be confident of continuing their unbeaten run under manager Sam Allardyce by claiming another positive result on the day.
Everton have been turned into a well drilled unit once again following the arrival of Allardyce and as a testament to this fact, the Toffees remain unbeaten in their last eight encounters in all competitions.
Now with a clash against a struggling Bournemouth side up next, Everton will be quietly optimistic of maintaining their good form by claiming a victory.
Everton Team News
The likes of Seamus Coleman, Leighton Baines, Ramiro Funes Mori and Ross Barkley all remain sidelined at the moment but as a huge boost the duo of Wayne Rooney and James McCarthy are available for selection once again.
Allardyce will probably revert back to a five man defence for the away game, with the likes of Cuco Martina, Micheal Keane, Ashley Williams, Mason Holgate and Jonjoe Kenny starting at the back in front of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
In midfield, the returning Rooney should partner the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin and Gylfi Sigurdsson and Oumar Niasse providing the attacking impetus behind the lone striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Yannick Bolasie and Aaron Lennon are available at the moment but they might rested given the fact that the fixtures are coming in thick and fast.
Probable Lineups
Bournemouth (Probable XI): Begovic; Smith, Ake, Cook, Francis; Fraser, Gosling, Ibe, Cook; King, Wilson
Everton (Probable XI): Pickford; Cuco Martina, Keane, Williams, Holgate, Kenny; Rooney, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson; Niasse, Calvert-Lewin
Last Meeting
Everton 2 – 1 AFC Bournemouth
Everton 6 – 3 AFC Bournemouth
Prediction
Everton suffered a defeat during their last visit to the Vitality but they should be considered favourites heading into Saturday’s encounter.
Bournemouth have not claimed a victory in their last eight encounters and given the fact that Everton are enjoying a renaissance at the moment, a narrow away victory could be on the cards.
Bournemouth 0 – 1 Everton
