Evertonvs.Bournemouth

This will be the Cherries' last visit to the grand old stadium, where they recorded an astonishing come-from-behind 3-2 victory here in August, scoring all three goals after the 87-minute mark.

Match preview

After going into their third round tie at home to Peterborough United without a manager and mired in relegation trouble, it has taken Everton less than a month to find a replacement and move themselves well clear from the bottom three.

It was David Moyes who came in for a second spell at the club, and despite losing his first game in charge, he has since won three on the spin, the first club outside the Premier League's top eight to manage that this season, moving the Toffees nine points clear of danger.

Sean Dyche won just three of his 19 league games in charge this season, while Moyes has matched that tally in just four matches since coming in a few days after the third round win over the Posh, where Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman took charge.

With safety looking ever closer, Everton supporters will now want a cup run to keep their season alive heading into the final few months, having not even reached a major final since 2009, under Moyes.

It is now 30 years since Everton won this competition, their last major honour, and on their two most recent trips to Wembley, they were beaten in semi-finals by Liverpool and Manchester United.

Another home tie should be beneficial at least, considering they have won eight of their last 10 FA Cup matches at Goodison, but Everton did lose at home in the fourth round last season, against Luton Town.

Luton caused Everton trouble last season, and Bournemouth regularly do so as well, winning seven of the last nine head-to-heads, including both league meetings this season.

Bournemouth have not beaten a single club three times in one season since doing so against Carlisle United in 2012-13 though, and Everton have won both FA Cup meetings between the two, in 1937 and 2016.

Nevertheless, history is on the line for the visitors, who have the opportunity to reach the fifth round in consecutive seasons for the first time, but with a battle for Champions League places on the line, this may not be Andoni Iraola's top priority.

The Cherries have only got beyond the fourth round four times in their history, losing 11 times at this stage.

Iraola's men did get further last season, but were soon knocked out by Leicester City in round five, falling one short of equalling their best-ever FA Cup performance, reaching the quarter-finals in 2021.

Having never qualified for Europe before, Bournemouth may not get a better chance again than they do this season, sitting just one point off fifth place, which is projected to be enough to earn a Champions League place next season.

That would also mean the top eight should all earn European spots, and Bournemouth are four points ahead of ninth-placed Fulham at present, giving Iraola something of a dilemma.

Everton FA Cup form:

W

Everton form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

W

W

Bournemouth FA Cup form:

W

Bournemouth form (all competitions):

W

W

D

W

W

L

Team News

The home crowd will hope to see Moyes fielding a strong XI for this one, but with the Merseyside derby coming up on Wednesday, there may be some rotation.

Beto has to start in attack with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti all out injured, while the talisman in attack Iliman Ndiaye is undroppable at present.

Dwight McNeil is also out injured, but James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam have returned from injuries over the past week or so, while Carlos Alcaraz could make his debut following his arrival from Flamengo on loan.

Iraola rotated his Bournemouth side in the third round, and could do so again, despite the step up in opposition and the numerous injuries they are currently dealing with.

After letting Max Aarons leave on loan, Bournemouth are also without fellow right-backs Julian Araujo, James Hill and Adam Smith, while Marcos Senesi is also out with a thigh problem.

Dango Ouattara has been filling in as a makeshift striker in the absence of Evanilson and Enes Unal, while Luis Sinisterra and Alex Scott, who would likely have gotten minutes in this one, are also out injured.

Everton possible starting lineup:

Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane, Young; Harrison, Garner, Gueye, Iroegbunam, Ndiaye; Beto

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:

Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Adams, Winterburn, Brooks; Tavernier, Jebbison, Ouattara

We say: Everton 1-1 Bournemouth (Bournemouth win on penalties)

Everton have come on leaps and bounds under Moyes, looking much more potent in attack, while also returning to the strong defensive unit that was tough to breach last season, but this will be a tough challenge against an in-form Bournemouth side.

Written by

Andrew Delaney

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