Bournemouth are averaging 5.85 corners per game in the Premier League this season, which is a tally only bettered by Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. Bournemouth win a lot of corners due to their pressing approach, with Andoni Iraola encouraging his side to get shots away as soon as possible when they win the ball back in promising areas. Only Brighton rank higher in the Premier League for high turnovers leading to shots this term, highlighting that Bournemouth are persisting with this approach this season.

Bournemouth’s corner average rises to 6.00 per game when looking across their six matches at the Vitality Stadium this term. This lines up well with the number of corners that Everton concede on the road, with the Toffees averaging 6.33 corners conceded per game across their six trips away from Merseyside this campaign. Only Wolves (8.0 per game) are conceding more corners on the road than Everton this season, showing that David Moyes’ side tend to be on the back foot in their away matches, leading to the home side coming away with a healthy corner count - Everton have conceded 5+ corners in four of their six away matches this term.

Everton have been poor as an attacking force this season, but this should improve here with the Toffees travelling to face a side that have failed to win in their last four matches, losing three of those games. Djordje Petrovic has been forced into making 2+ saves in three of those matches, with the exception being against West Ham. This is a real concern for Bournemouth as they’ve conceded 2+ goals in all of those matches, as well as seeing their goalkeeper tested regularly. 

This tells us that Bournemouth are currently conceding an unusually high volume of chances, which is linked to sides figuring out a way around their intense press. Bournemouth commit as many as five bodies to this press, so they can be vulnerable against more direct sides - Everton rank 3rd for long balls in the Premier League, so this is an avenue that David Moyes’ side can look to exploit. 

Petrovic is a solid shot-stopper who is being let down by his side not offering enough protection in front of him, this was to be expected with the players that the Cherries lost at the back during the summer. He’s been forced into making 38 saves across his 13 Premier League matches (2.92 per game). Everton are only averaging 2.90 shots on target in the Premier League this term, but I’d be amazed if that metric stayed that low here with how open Bournemouth have been at the back in recent weeks.

I always come back to Bournemouth’s press when looking to find betting angles for the Cherries. Backing their forwards to commit fouls and make tackles has been a successful avenue throughout Andoni Iraola’s time in charge of the club, with Evanilson being the perfect striker for his system. 

Evanilson isn’t the most clinical of forwards, Eli Junior Kroupi on the bench is certainly a better finisher than the Brazilian, but Iraola tends to lean towards Evanilson because of what he brings to the side overall. He’s full of energy and presses with intensity, alongside the rest of the Bournemouth frontline. 

He’s committed eight fouls across his 10 Premier League appearances this season (0.81 per 90) and will be up against James Tarkowski here. The Everton centre back has the physical advantage over Evanilson, and is also better in the air than the Bournemouth striker, so there should be opportunities where Tarkowski can look to draw.

The majority of the attention has gone to Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye when people discuss Everton, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has quietly been one of the signings of the summer. He was always a solid option at Chelsea, and I thought he could be valuable to a mid table side, as he is proving now. 

He’s very aggressive without the ball, and often pushes up to partner Beto or Thierno Barry when Everton are without the ball - forming a 4-4-2 shape which can be very difficult to play through. Dewsbury-Hall has committed 15 fouls across his 12 Premier League appearances this term (1.27 per 90) and has also collected five yellow cards - more than any other Everton player. 

Dewsbury-Hall’s main opponent here is likely to be Alex Scott, who continues to grow into his role in this Bournemouth side. He’s very strong when it comes to winning fouls, with 18 drawn across his 13 Premier League appearances (1.96 per 90). Dewsbury-Hall and Scott should brush shoulders regularly in this clash, with a high foul count expected, due to how aggressive and physical both sides are without the ball.