Bournemouth vs Everton. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance11,228.
Saturday 28 November 2015 15:18, UK
Bournemouth will look to arrest their steady decline down the Premier League table against free-scoring Everton on Saturday.
Roberto Martinez's men have scored 11 goals in their last three league matches while Bournemouth haven't won in their last eight games.
Everton are currently seventh in the league on 20 points, while Eddie Howe's men are sat in the relegation zone on 9 points - level with Sam Allardyce's Sunderland.
Team news
Baines stepped up his rehabilitation from an ankle injury with an under-21s run-out on Sunday and boss Martinez - who has stressed the full-back must be both mentally and physically ready - will make a late call on his involvement against the Cherries.
Martinez also reported that beyond that, and the possible return of fit-again midfielder Muhamed Besic, he is set to have the same group of players to pick from as for the 4-0 victory over Aston Villa last Saturday.
Bournemouth will assess goalkeeper Artur Boruc but Tommy Elphick, Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings and Max Gradel are long-term absentees.
Opta stats
Bournemouth and Everton have met three times, all in cup competitions and the Toffees have won each match.
Everton have lost just two of their last 10 league matches away from home (W4 D4 L2).
Bournemouth have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the top division this campaign (9).
Everton have the best chance conversion rate in the league, scoring with one in five of their attempts at goal (20%).
All 24 of Everton's goals this season have been from open play, making them the only side in the league yet to score from a set-piece this season.
Romelu Lukaku is the fifth player in league history to score 50 goals before turning 23 (along with Fowler, Owen, Rooney & Ronaldo).
Lukaku has scored seven goals in his last seven league games for the Toffees.
The Cherries have scored a league-high five goals in the first 15 minutes of their league games this season.
Indeed, a league-high 71% of their goals this season have come in the first-half (10 out of 14).
Since the start of last season, only Cesc Fabregas (20) has provided more assists than Matt Ritchie (19) in the top four tiers of English league football.
Merson's prediction
Bournemouth are huffing and puffing, and sooner or later it might turn around, like it did with Leicester last season.
But they should have beaten Newcastle - they lost. They were 2-0 up against a struggling Swansea team and never won, so that's worrying in my opinion. They've played really well in the last two games and got one point.
Everton are a decent team, and when they've got their players fit they're one of the top teams. Lukaku and Ross Barkley are both playing well and they've got a top centre-half in John Stones, it's confidence for them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Bournemouth are 9/5 with Sky Bet to end a five-match winless run against in-form Everton (7/5) with the draw available at 12/5. Lukaku has scored four goals in the last three matches for the visitors and the Belgian striker is 5/2 to net in an Everton win and 13/2 to bag another brace. The Soccer Saturday pundits are all backing the Toffees to win in their Sky Bet tips, with both Matt Le Tissier and Charlie Nicholas tipping 3-1 away wins at 18/1.
