The final round of English Premier League fixtures will be played on Sunday and there is plenty to play for at both ends of the table. One of the matches that will have a say on the relegation battle takes place at Goodison Park as Everton welcome Bournemouth.
The best the hosts can do this season is remain in 11th place while the visitors could move out of the relegation zone with a win and if other results go their way.
Everton come into the match having secured a good 1-0 win at Sheffield United. It was a much improved display from The Toffees who had failed to win any of their previous 4 Premier League matches. Having resumed the season with a 0-0 draw at home against Liverpool followed by victories at Norwich City and home against Leicester City, Everton struggled.
They suffered defeats at Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers plus were held to draws at home by Southampton and Aston Villa.
However, trends show Everton are difficult to beat at home and they are undefeated in their last 11 Premier League games at Goodison Park. However, Everton have managed to win only one of their 5 most recent home league matches. Each of those 5 games have been very tight and 4 of them have seen under 2.5 goals scored.
Both teams have scored in 6 of Everton’s last 7 home league matches.
Bournemouth lost 2-0 at home against Southampton in a match they were really hoping to win to aid their battle against relegation. Having fallen a goal behind and saved a penalty, Bournemouth thought they had scored a late equaliser only to see it ruled out by VAR. Southampton then went up the other end of the pitch to secure the points.
That result means Bournemouth have won only one of their last 12 Premier League matches and with that kind of form it is easy to see why they are in the relegation zone. The Cherries have lost 7 of their last 9 league games and each of their last 9 on the road. You must go back to the 1-0 victory at Chelsea on the 14th of December to find the last time Bournemouth won an away Premier League match.
They have been conceding lot of goals in away games, with 22 goals conceded in their last 9. Both teams have scored in 3 of Bournemouth’s last 4 away Premier League matches.
Team news and Everton will be without the injured trio of Cenk Tosun, Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin. Moise Kean, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate all face a race to be fit in time of for the game.
Bournemouth have injury problems in defence with Chris Mepham, Nathan Aké and Simon Francis injured. Charlie Daniels is back in training while Adam Smith is struggling to make it due to a head injury.
This is going to be a tough match for Bournemouth and even if they win, they will have to rely on results elsewhere to avoid relegation. They are sure to give it a go and that means we could see both teams finding the back of the net but Everton must start as favourites to take maximum points.