As four o’clock looms on Sunday all the Premier League teams will kick-off in their final game of the season, but for Bournemouth, their trip to Everton could be their last Premier League game for a long time.
Three points alone in this fixture won’t save relegation-threatened Bournemouth from the dreaded drop, they will also have to hope for both Watford and Aston Villa to lose on the day to be safe.
When slightly less was on the cards in September at the reverse fixture, Bournemouth came out trumps over Everton, beating them 3-1, however, the Cherries season hasn’t gone as well since.
Eddie Howe’s side have only won one of their last twelve games, most recently suffering defeat to local rivals Southampton, which pulled most of their future from their own hands.
Everton on the other hand, have avoided defeat at Goodison Park in their last eleven league games, and this consistency has proved key to keep them high up the table despite their poor away performances.
The Cherries are sure to be alarmed by Everton’s home form as they travel up north to face them, and Bournemouth’s worry will only be heightened by the fact they haven’t won an away game since December.
Things don’t get much better for Bournemouth in their final relegation scrap of the season as they will be without Charles Daniels, Simon Francis and Chris Mepham in the must-win game.
Everton also have a few injury concerns, with Moise Kean potentially joining their injury list that already consists of Fabian Delph, Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina.
As much as the Bournemouth players will go into the game full of fight, I’m not sure they will be able to be Howe’s hero’s this time, and their five-year Premier League stint could come to a crashing end.
Match Preview written by Sophie Reynolds
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