Everton and Bournemouth are two mid-table sides on a bad run of form but George Pitts thinks Brazilian star Richarlison can help the hosts out here.
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Richarlison to have 2+ shots on target at 6/4
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Everton v AFC Bournemouth (1415 GMT kick-off, Sky Sports Premier League)
These are two sides in little danger of relegation who are instead looking at a top-half finish - although their form will have to improve to achieve that aim.
Everton find themselves in a predicament at the minute. Owner Farhad Moshiri commented on them not being good enough this season and promised the funding to get the Toffees to where they want to be.
Since David Moyes left for Manchester United in 2013, they have had Roberto Martinez's passing style, Ronald Koeman's organisation and Sam Allardyce's more robust brand of football which did not please fans.
In Marco Silva they have appointed a young manager with ideas and his style is arguably getting across to a promising team with plenty of attacking talent, yet results have not gone their way and questions are already being raised about his position less than a season into his tenure.
It could well be a case of be careful what you wish for, though a win here would help put that chatter on hold for a while.
The Cherries, meanwhile, have a more settled ethos with long-term manager Eddie Howe and they sit mid-table. It's a sign of how far they've come that alarm bells are just beginning to ring following a run of just two wins since the start of November in all competitions.
They have been among the league's bigger spenders in the January window, with Dominic Solanke one key arrival - although we will not see him on his return to Merseyside due to injury, whereas Nathaniel Clyne could make his debut here.
Both sides play attractive football and it should be a good watch, with plenty of action at either end. And while not perhaps the showdown Super Sunday game we're used to, what happens here could have a lasting impact.
Betting guide
Prediction: Everton 2-1 AFC Bournemouth (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)
The Cherries are on a torrid run away from home, losing their last six, while the Toffees have not been great themselves. The feeling is the hosts may just edge it, but a draw would not be out of question and there's no real temptation to have a bet in the match market.
Best bet: Richarlison to have 2+ shots on target at 6/4
There was a temptation to back both Richarlison and Callum Wilson to have at least one shot on target each at above evens, but the latter is a doubt for this clash and the price on Richarlison to have two shots on target alone is eye-catching. The benefit of this bet is that it avoids the full-time result in a game that is so difficult to call. If one man can get Everton moving in the right direction, it is Richarlison and he could be restored to a more central position for the visit of the Cherries. He has had 10 attempts in his last two three games and two shots on target is not a big ask of a key player whose role here could be even more significant.
RequestABet: Over 2.5 total goals, Richarlison 2+ shots on target and Fraser 1+ shots on target at 6/1
Opta statistics
- 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).
Odds correct as of 1825 GMT on 12/01/19
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