An all-Premier League EFL Cup third-round tie takes place at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday evening as Bournemouth play host to Everton.
Both sides are aiming to bounce back from top-flight defeats at the weekend, as the Cherries lost a seven-goal thriller to Leeds United, while the Toffees went down 2-0 to Leicester City.
Match preview
© Reuters
For the second time in two weeks, Bournemouth let a two-goal lead slip through their grasp in a chastening Premier League defeat, with Leeds managing to make lightning strike twice for the Cherries after Tottenham's dramatic comeback win on the South coast.
Despite finding themselves 3-1 up at Elland Road, Gary O'Neil's side succumbed to Sam Greenwood's curling strike, Liam Cooper's header and Crysencio Summerville's last-minute winner as their dismal run without a point in the top flight stretched to four matches.
The new manager bounce under O'Neil was never going to last forever for Bournemouth, who now prepare for the first of two quickfire meetings with Everton before the World Cup break aiming to avoid a fifth defeat in a row in all tournaments.
The Cherries needed penalties to see off Norwich City in the second round of the 2022-23 EFL Cup after a 2-2 draw - gleaning revenge on the Canaries after losing 6-0 to them in the second round last season - but they have not advanced past the third round since 2018-19.
© Reuters
While Bournemouth were on the verge of winning against Leeds before throwing it all away, Everton experienced no such early hope against Leicester City, who stormed to a 2-0 success at Goodison Park thanks to their midfield maestros.
Youri Tielemans's goal-of-the-season worthy volley broke the deadlock before Harvey Barnes finished clinically in the second half, and it could have been worse for the Toffees had James Maddison been able to take one of his multitude of chances to fire home.
In a similar story to that of their upcoming hosts, Frank Lampard's side demonstrated an impressive resilient streak earlier in the autumn but have now won just one of their last six games in all tournaments, and they have failed to score in four of their last five.
Speaking of profligacy, the Toffees could only edge past Fleetwood Town 1-0 in the second round of the EFL Cup thanks to Demarai Gray's effort, and they were eliminated in the third round on penalties by Queens Park Rangers in the 2021-22 edition.
That defeat marked the seventh time in 12 seasons since 2010 that Everton have gone out in the third round, and they lost both games to Bournemouth by a 3-1 scoreline in the 2019-20 Premier League season before they prepare to meet the Cherries twice in the space of four days this time around.
Team News
© Reuters
Bournemouth did not sustain any fresh injury concerns during the recent defeat to Leeds, but David Brooks, Neto Moura and Lloyd Kelly are not expected to play again before the World Cup.
Chris Mepham picked up his fifth booking of the Premier League season against Leeds, but his suspension will not take effect here, and O'Neil will be expected to make some alterations despite the calibre of opposition.
Jack Stephens, Jordan Zemura, Junior Stanislas and Joe Rothwell will all be vying for starts, and there may even be scope for Emiliano Marcondes to come back into the first-team fold.
As for Everton, perennial treatment room occupant Dominic Calvert-Lewin was forced off with a hamstring strain just after the hour mark against Leicester, joining Ben Godfrey and Andros Townsend in the medical bay, but Yerry Mina is in contention.
Lampard does not believe that Calvert-Lewin's injury is too serious, but he will certainly miss out here as he prepares to undergo a scan, so the door is open for Neal Maupay to come back in up front.
Asmir Begovic, Nathan Patterson, James Garner and Ruben Vinagre are among those hoping to force their way into contention for the cup game, with the latter failing to make the Toffees' last three Premier League squads.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Stacey, Stephens, Mepham, Zemura; Christie, Lerma, Pearson, Stanislas; Billing, Moore
Everton possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Patterson, Holgate, Keane, Vinagre; Iwobi, Garner, Doucoure; Gray, Maupay, Gordon
We say: Bournemouth 1-1 Everton (Everton to win on penalties)
Neither Bournemouth nor Everton have truly covered themselves in glory in recent weeks, and a plethora of changes can be expected as both sides prioritise their league fortunes.
Calvert-Lewin's injury will not help the Toffees on the attacking front either, and it would not be a surprise to see this third-round tie go all the way to penalties, where the visitors' recent successes from 12 yards should help them to a fourth-round appearance.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Knapton
