AFC Bournemouth will be hoping to put the finishing touches to the season by registering a second double when they face Premier League counterparts Everton on Sunday (4.30pm kick-off).
Goals from Marcus Tavernier, Kieffer Moore and Jaidon Anthony earned the Cherries a 3-0 win over the Toffees in November, with Leicester also beaten twice by Gary O’Neil’s team.
A solitary point in their next five league games following defeat at Vitality Stadium saw Everton part company with Frank Lampard and replace him with Sean Dyche.
The Toffees won two of their first three games under Dyche – against Arsenal (1-0) and Leeds (1-0) – before picking up eight points from their next 11.
Earlier this month, Dyche’s team stunned Brighton by triumphing 5-1 at the Amex Stadium and bagged a dramatic injury-time equaliser last time out at Wolves.
Having picked up a share of the spoils at Molineux, Everton saw relegation rivals Leeds go down 3-1 at West Ham on Sunday, leaving them one win from securing their Premier League status.
Ahead of Sunday’s clash, afcb.co.uk caught up with Joe Thomas who covers the fortunes of Everton for the Liverpool Echo.
EVERTON PROFILE
Founded: 1878
Ground: Goodison Park
Nicknames: The Toffees
Record appearances: Neville Southall – 750 games (1981-1998)
Record goalscorer: Dixie Dean – 383 goals in 433 games
Manager: Sean Dyche (appointed January 2023)
Club captain: Séamus Coleman
League position: 17th
Leading goalscorer: Dwight McNeil (seven in Premier League, pictured below)
Last game: Wolves 1-1 Everton (Premier League)
afcb.co.uk: With one game to go, how would you summarise Everton’s season?
JT: It’s been a miserable season. It’s been wretched, on and off the pitch, and it’s deeply unsatisfactory that Everton find themselves in the same position as they did 12 months ago.
There have been some bright sparks, a few players have emerged with positive performances in recent months and Sean Dyche has done well to make this side competitive.
But, clearly, it isn’t the season that most fans had in mind when they started out in August.
afcb.co.uk: What’s the mood among supporters heading into the big game?
JT: Hopeful but anxious. There’s an acceptance that Everton’s fate lies in their own hands and, given how worrying things looked at various points over recent months, most people would have taken a win on the final day at Goodison Park guaranteeing their Premier League survival.
But because of how high stakes this game is, partly because of the difficulties Everton have had with playing Bournemouth already this season, mixed with a few injury issues then it’s clear that everybody involved with Everton is racked with nerves at the prospect of the 90 minutes to follow.
afcb.co.uk: How have things changed under Sean Dyche?
JT: Sean Dyche (pictured above) has brought a clarity of approach, a resilience and a more determined mentality to a group of players that really struggled for the first part of the season, as it did last season as well.
He has created a side that goes into each game, and the final stages of each game, believing that anything is possible.
For a squad that lacks real quality and has lacked consistency that determination has earned some valuable points in the relegation run-in.
afcb.co.uk: What is the atmosphere going to be like at Goodison Park?
JT: There is no doubt the Everton supporters will get behind their team straight from the first whistle.
There will be a raucous atmosphere outside the ground during the build-up, inside when the players warm-up and from the moment the first ball is kicked.
The fans and their passionate support were integral to Everton’s survival last season and it’s been another defining factor in their efforts to survive this season.
The supporters deserve more than what they have witnessed on the pitch over the past two years but, despite that, will no doubt do everything they can to get their players over the line on Sunday.
afcb.co.uk: Who has been your player of the season?
JT: Jordan Pickford (pictured above) has comfortably been Everton’s best player this season.
During the first half of the campaign, when things were better, he made outstanding save after outstanding save, including standout stops against Liverpool (0-0) and Fulham (0-0).
In the final weeks of the campaign, his importance has never been clearer to Everton and his penalty save from James Maddison at Leicester (2-2) could well go down as one of the biggest saves in Everton’s history.
His injury-time save against Matheus Nunes with Everton still losing at Wolves (1-1) and the stops he made to prevent Brighton (5-1) getting a foothold in the game at the Amex have been crucial to Everton being in control of their own destiny going into this final game.
afcb.co.uk: Are any key players either injured or suspended against the Cherries?
JT: There are no suspensions.
There is a question mark over the fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin (pictured above) who is as important as they come. He is Everton’s focal point, their presence and their best goalscorer.
They have looked a completely different side since his return from injury and, even when he hasn’t been scoring, they look far more effective going forward so his absence would be keenly felt.
There are also question marks over Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson.
Everton are desperately low on senior full-backs and, particularly against Wolves, it was clear that if either of them are out then it would force a reshuffle of approach.
It would quite possibly mean sacrificing players from elsewhere to put square pegs in round holes. If either of those full-backs are out then Dyche would have to rethink his strategy.
If both are out then it could end up with a left-winger playing left-back and a centre-back at right-back which would be far from ideal. Ben Godrey and Séamus Coleman, the club captain, are both definitely out.
afcb.co.uk: How do you see the game panning out and what’s your score prediction?
JT: Everton have started some important games well, particularly in scoring early goals against Brentford and Brighton which provided a foundation for important victories.
They will know they need to make a fast start against Bournemouth and Dyche will have drilled that into them so I expect an aggressive and assertive start from Everton.
The longer it goes without Everton taking the lead – if they are to take the lead – the more nervous the atmosphere will likely get, particularly if Leicester were to go ahead against West Ham.
Ultimately though, with everything on the line, I think Everton will get a win and do what it takes to survive. I think they will win 2-0.
You can follow Joe on Twitter – @joe_thomas18
Officials: Stuart Attwell (referee), Constantine Hatzidakis (assistant), James Mainwaring (assistant), James Bell (fourth official), Michael Oliver (VAR).
