Everton vs Bournemouth preview: Goals guaranteed at Goodison Park?

Everton take on Bournemouth, live on Renault Super Sunday on Sky Sports Premier League from 1pm, in a fixture that is renowned for producing entertainment and plenty of goals.

Goals are always seemingly guaranteed in this fixture. There have been 29 of them scored in seven Premier League meetings (Everton 16, Bournemouth 13), which works out at an average 4.14 goals per game. It's the highest average for a Premier League fixture played more than six times.

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However, both teams are low on confidence after a dodgy festive period. Everton have lost four of their five league games, including the last two. Meanwhile, Bournemouth are currently on a club-record run of five consecutive away defeats in the Premier League.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe is well aware of the importance of breaking that run.

"It's another massive game for us," said Howe. "We're keen to show a response to the recent run that we've been on.

"It's two teams that want to attack and implement their attacking play on the other team.

"We did really well to come back from two goals down against them earlier this season."

Team news

Everton have no new injury worries, but Marco Silva may refresh his starting line-up.

Ademola Lookman scored in the FA Cup win over Lincoln and may replace Theo Walcott while Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes and Richarlison are all likely to feature after being rested last weekend.

Bournemouth trio Callum Wilson, Joshua King and Ryan Fraser will undergo late fitness tests ahead of Sunday's Premier League game at Everton.

Strikers Wilson (hamstring) and King (flu) missed the Cherries' FA Cup loss to Brighton last weekend, while winger Fraser (hamstring) reported injured following the tie.

Right-back Nathaniel Clyne could make his league debut for the club, but fellow new signing Dominic Solanke (hamstring) will not be involved, while Simon Francis, Adam Smith and Lewis Cook (all knee) remain sidelined.

Opta stats

• Everton have won all three of their home Premier League matches against Bournemouth, scoring 10 goals.
• Bournemouth have lost all five of their away matches against Everton in all competitions.
• Everton have won just two of their last 19 Premier League games played on Sunday (D3 L14), losing five of their seven this season (W1 D1).
• Since joining the Premier League in 2015-16, Bournemouth have lost 14 of their 19 league matches on Sunday (W3 D2), losing both this season.
• Everton have lost four of their last five Premier League games (W1), as many as they had in their first 16 in 2018-19 (W6 D6 L4).
• Against the six ever-present Premier League sides, Bournemouth have won just two of their 21 away games (W2 D2 L17), with both victories coming at Chelsea.
• Everton are looking to avoid losing three consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since March 2016.
• Everton's Gylfi Sigurdsson has been on the losing side in 14 of the Premier League games in which he's scored since his debut in January 2012, including three this term. Only Romelu Lukaku (15) has scored in a higher number of defeats in that time.
• Bournemouth's Ryan Fraser has provided nine Premier League assists this season - no player has more in 2018-19. He could become the first Scottish player to reach double figures for assists in a single Premier League campaign (currently level with Gary McAllister in 1996-97).
• Callum Wilson has scored 48 league goals for Bournemouth, with 2018-19 currently his best scoring season in the Premier League (9 goals).

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Merson's prediction

You just don't know what you're going to get with these two teams. The way these teams have played recently, no result would leave me surprised. Nothing would shock me. The pressure is on Everton, they need to win the game. And with Bournemouth so soft away from home, I think the Toffees will win.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)

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