Match Preview
Everton hope to build on their Cup win over Doncaster when their Premier League campaign resumes this weekend against Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
The Blues have made an awful start to their League season with back-to-back defeats, seven goals conceded, and none scored, but even though it was against League Two opposition, they showed some encouraging signs in the Carabao Cup tie on Tuesday evening.
One of the most prominent aspects of the win over Rovers was the performance of Iliman Ndiaye, particularly in the second half where he scored an excellent solo goal and made his strongest case yet for his first start in the Premier League.
The consensus among supporters appears to be that he should come into the side for Abdoulaye Doucouré, who has struggled to make an impact thus far, but with Dyche indicating a preference to deploy the Senegalese out wide, it may well be that if he plays, Jack Harrison or Dwight McNeil would be the player to make way.
Meanwhile, James Garner’s return from injury could see him keep his place in the starting XI, perhaps resuming his partnership with Idrissa Gueye at the expense of Tim Iroegbunam who could count himself hugely unfortunate to lose his spot having made such a strong start to life as an Everton player.
In defence, Seamus Coleman came through an hour on Tuesday and could start again, alleviating the selection crisis at right back, but it remains to be seen if Jake O’Brien did enough to displace Michael Keane at centre-half alongside James Tarkowski.
Up front, Dominic Calvert Lewin is expected to lead the line once more given that it is unlikely he will have left the club before the transfer deadline. The striker has yet to agree a new contract at Everton and now finds himself in the position of needing to perform well for the Toffees in order to earn a move away, either in January or as a free agent next summer.
Regardless of who is selected, Everton will need to perform significantly better than they did in their home opener against Brighton. Just like last season, fans will be hoping that a cup of victory over Doncaster can be the catalyst that ignites the team’s home form.
With two 1-1 draws form their first two games, Bournemouth come to Merseyside unbeaten so far, although manager Andoni Iraola was hugely aggrieved that a late winner against Newcastle last week was wiped out by a controversial VAR call.
The Cherries no longer have Dominic Solanke spearheading their attack but in Antoine Semenyo and Luis Sinisterra they have dangerous players capable of causing the Blues problems. They could also hand a debut to on-loan goalkeeper Kepa who has just arrived from Chelsea.
While Everton have looked unconvincing so far in the League, they do have a good record over Bournemouth at Goodison Park, having won six of seven since the south coast club were first promoted to the top flight in 2015.
A victory would send Dyche and his squad into the international break in a much more upbeat state of mind, with the additional potential fillip of a fit Jarrad Branthwaite by the time the season resumes against Aston Villa on 14 September.
Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 31 August 2024
Referee: Stuart Attwell
VAR: Graham Scott
Last Time: Everton 3 – 0 Bournemouth
Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, McNeil, Ndiaye, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin