Winless weekend sides Bournemouth take on Everton for midweek showdown.
AFC Bournemouth vs. Everton F.C. kicks off at 19:30 [GMT] on Tuesday, December 2, at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth suffered heartbreak at the weekend as they squandered a two-goal advantage to fall 3-2 against Sunderland, marking their first Premier League defeat in such a situation since March 2023. That collapse extended the Cherries’ winless run to four league matches [LLDL], the joint-second longest ongoing streak in the division, and saw Andoni Iraola’s side slide out of the European conversation and into a crowded mid-table pack. They now sit 11th on 19 points [5W, 4D, 4L]. A return to the south coast should serve as a major confidence lifter, with Bournemouth unbeaten in seven Premier League home games [5W, 2D, 0L]—their longest such run in top-flight history. Historically, the Cherries have also enjoyed this fixture, winning eight of the last ten competitive H2Hs [8W, 0D, 2L]. This encounter will be Everton manager David Moyes’ 16th personal meeting with the Cherries [7W, 4D, 4L], and notably, six of his seven victories have come with a clean sheet. Discipline has been a problem for the hosts, who have collected a league-high 35 yellow cards so far. Their squad is stretched, with David Brooks, Marcos Senesi and Lewis Cook all suspended, while Ben Doak and Ryan Christie remain sidelined through injury. Evanilson is expected at the attacking end of the Cherries’ 4—2—3—1 formation.
Everton, meanwhile, closed October with consecutive league losses [LL] but responded admirably in November by taking seven points from an available nine. A 1-1 draw at Sunderland preceded impressive back-to-back wins over Fulham [2-0] and Manchester United [1-0]. However, their momentum stalled over the weekend when they were dealt a humbling 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle. Despite their inconsistent season and lowly league position, the congested Premier League table means the Toffees could leap into the top half with a victory, as they currently sit 14th with 18 points [5W, 3D, 5L]. Everton will look toward their battling 1-0 win at Manchester United—their only victory in their last five away trips [LLLDW]—as a possible spark for another strong road performance. However, they arrive depleted, with Idrissa Gueye suspended for the second match of his three-game ban. Merlin Röhl, Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson are on the treatment table, adding to David Moyes’ selection challenges. A 4—2—3—1 formation may be deployed with Thierno Barry leading the attack. With both sides desperate to regain consistency and climb a tightly packed table, this meeting at the Vitality Stadium promises plenty of intensity and potentially significant movement in the standings.