Everton will face an uphill battle in the fourth round of the FA Cup as they have lost seven of their last nine meetings against Bournemouth.
However, home advantage could work in favour of the Toffees whose six wins against the Cherries have all come at Goodison Park.
Bournemouth have also beaten twice in the Premier League this season. They secured a sensational 3-2 comeback at Goodison Park in August with the visitors scoring three goals in quick succession after the 87th minute to stun the hosts. The two sides’ most recent encounter ended in a 1-0 win for Andoni Iraola’s on home soil.
While the Cherries may have the upper hand over Everton in recent matches across all competitions, in the FA Cup, they have never been able to get past the Toffees. Bournemouth were eliminated by Everton in their previous ties against each (in round three in 1937 and in round five in 2016).
Goodison Park has also been a strong hunting ground for Everton in the FA Cup. They have won eight of their last 10 matches in this competition on home soil. However, one of those defeats was against Luton Town in the fourth round last season.
Form Guide:
Everton: W-L-W-W-W
Bournemouth: W-D-W-W-L
Recent Form:
• Everton: Under the renewed leadership of David Moyes, Everton has secured three consecutive Premier League victories, including a commanding 4-0 win over Leicester City. This resurgence has lifted them nine points clear of the relegation zone.
• Bournemouth: Prior to a recent 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, Bournemouth enjoyed a 12-match unbeaten streak across all competitions. They currently sit seventh in the Premier League, just three points shy of the top four, reflecting a strong season under manager Andoni Iraola.
Head-to-Head Statistics:
• In their last nine encounters across all competitions, Bournemouth has emerged victorious seven times, while Everton has won twice. Notably, each of Everton’s last six wins over Bournemouth has occurred at Goodison Park.
Key Players:
• Everton: Forward Iliman Ndiaye has been in impressive form, scoring four goals in his last five appearances, including in each of his last three matches.
• Bournemouth: Despite recent injuries, players like Dango Ouattara have stepped up, contributing significantly to the team’s attacking prowess.
Tactical Insights:
Moyes has implemented tactical adjustments, such as revitalizing Jesper Lindstrøm and repositioning Jake O’Brien and Vitalii Mykolenko, which have positively impacted the team’s performance.
“It’s not me personally who has made the change,” Moses said. “I think the players have changed how they perceive themselves. There are a lot of talented players here and they’ve shown it. The last thing we need here is pressure. They don’t need it because they’ve been living under so much pressure from different things: the form, even their own supporters saying: ‘No, we’re not liking this.’
Injury Concerns:
• Everton: Key players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja, Dwight McNeil, and Orel Mangala are sidelined due to injuries.
• Bournemouth: The team is dealing with injuries to right-backs Adam Smith, Julian Araujo, and James Hill, as well as defender Marcos Senesi and forwards Evanilson and Enes Unal.