Everton will be looking to build on what has been a positive start to the 2019-20 campaign when they travel to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Toffees have collected seven points from their four league games this season to sit seventh in the table, while Bournemouth are 15th with four points to show from as many matches.
Match preview
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Bournemouth are one of five teams to have collected four points from their opening four Premier League games, having recorded one win, one draw and two defeats in the early weeks of the 2019-20 campaign.
The Cherries opened their season with a 1-1 draw against Sheffield United, before picking up an impressive victory away to Aston Villa on August 17. A 3-1 loss at home to Manchester City followed, before suffering a 3-1 defeat away to Leicester City before the international break.
Eddie Howe's side did overcome Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Cup at the end of August, although they needed penalties to advance to the next round, where they will face Burton Albion on September 25.
Bournemouth have only won one of their last eight Premier League home matches, suffering four defeats in the process. That said, the Cherries are unbeaten in all four of their top-flight home games against Everton.
It is certainly an interesting period of the season for Howe's team considering that they will follow this game with a trip to Southampton on September 20. The month will then end with the EFL Cup clash against Burton and a home Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
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It remains to be seen whether Everton are capable of launching a strong challenge for the top six this season, but a positive start to the campaign has seen them collect seven points from their four games.
After a goalless draw on the opening weekend against Crystal Palace, Marco Silva's side recorded a 1-0 victory at home to Watford on August 17. A disappointing 2-0 defeat at Villa followed, but the Toffees have won their last two against Lincoln City in the EFL Cup and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.
That said, the Merseyside outfit are winless in their last five Premier League away matches, while they are yet to score on their travels in the league this season. Whether the club can launch a top-six challenge could largely depend on whether they can improve away from home.
Everton picked up a 2-2 draw in the corresponding match during the 2018-19 campaign, but have not managed to win an away Premier League game against the Cherries.
Things are starting to come together for Silva, though, as the Toffees will head into this game with a reasonably clean bill of health in terms of injuries, and with the likes of Alex Iwobi starting to show some good form.
Bournemouth form: DWLL
Everton form: DWLW
Team News
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Bournemouth are still without the likes of Charlie Daniels, David Brooks and Dan Gosling, although Lewis Cook could make his first appearance since injuring his knee in December.
Defenders Lloyd Kelly and Simon Francis are not yet available despite returning to training, but Chris Mepham and Adam Smith should shake off knocks to feature.
Harry Wilson is expected to keep his spot in the final third of the field, while the likes of Ryan Fraser, Callum Wilson and Joshua King are almost certain to be included.
As for Everton, aside from midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin and second-choice goalkeeper Jonas Lossl, Silva has a strong squad to choose from for the clash on the south coast.
The XI that started against Wolves could again take to the field here, with Richarlison and Iwobi playing wide of Moise Kean, who is still looking for his first goal for the club.
Fabian Delph is also expected to line up alongside Andre Gomes in the middle of the park, leaving the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin on the bench.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Smith, Mepham, Cook, Ake; H Wilson, Billing, Lerma, Fraser; King, C Wilson
Everton possible starting lineup: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Gomes, Delph; Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Kean
We say: Bournemouth 1-1 Everton
Everton will come into the match in the better form, but Bournemouth certainly have the credentials to cause the visitors a lot of issues. We are struggling to pick a winner so have backed a 1-1 draw.
Matt Law
