Bournemouth and Everton lock horns in their first match of 2025 when they meet at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday.
The fanbases of these two clubs could not be further apart in their satisfaction with the current direction they are going in, with Everton still down in the dumps and the Cherries making their best-ever start to a Premier League season.
Match preview
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A phenomenal recent run of form has seen Bournemouth go seven games unbeaten in the Premier League - their longest-ever run - resulting in manager Andoni Iraola being nominated for Manager of the Month.
That unbeaten streak was extended in dramatic circumstances once again last week, when Dango Ouattara's delicate chip saw them equalise at Fulham to salvage a 2-2 draw in the 89th minute at Craven Cottage.
Remarkably, that was their 10th goal after the 85th-minute mark this season - three more than any other side have managed.
Another point on the board took them to 30, and seventh place in the Premier League table to finish 2024 - just one place and one point behind champions Manchester City, and five points off the top four.
Iraola has taken many plaudits for his side's high-pressing and intensive performances, and their attacking output shows that, because only two other sides took more shots in the Premier League than their 601 across 2024.
Their brave performance at Old Trafford a couple of weeks ago has been the most notable of the season so far, becoming just the second team ever to win there by a three-goal margin in successive seasons, and the first for 63 years.
A close second would be their win in the reverse fixture at the end of August, when Bournemouth set the record for the latest a team has ever trailed 2-0 and still won a Premier League match, capitalising on Everton's capitulation to win 3-2 at Goodison Park despite being two goals down on 87 minutes.
That sets them in good stead for this fixture too, because they have won four home games in a row against Everton, and never lost to the Toffees in the Premier League at the Vitality.
Everton have never played an opponent more often in the Premier League without beating them away, and recent form offers little to suggest they could do it again.
The year 2024 is not one any Everton fan will look back on with fondness, as it cannot get much worse this year, unless they suffer relegation ahead of the move to their new stadium.
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Eight wins across the entire calendar year ranked them 91st in the entire EFL, as only Burton Albion won fewer, and it was Everton's lowest tally across a year since 1997, with half of those victories coming during a purple patch in April.
Dismal attacking numbers go some way to explaining why, because no team in the 92 were anywhere near Everton at the bottom of the scoring charts - scoring a mere 31 across the whole year.
After three resolute performances to earn draws against Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City, Everton were once again clueless when the onus was on them to make something happen in the final third against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Everton gave away two cheap goals defensively, and took over 80 minutes to force opposing keeper Matz Sels into a save, meaning they have now failed to score in 38% of the games under Sean Dyche's stewardship.
Just one win in 10 games has seen the gap close below them again, with Ipswich Town's surprise win over Chelsea leaving them within touching distance of the Toffees, two points back.
The visitors are also rarely strong starters to a new year, having lost six of their last seven opening games of a calendar year, but neither are Bournemouth, who have enjoyed just one win in 12 in such matches.
Team News
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Bournemouth will have Justin Kluivert available again after he missed the trip to Fulham with suspension, but Luis Sinisterra and Marcus Tavernier are expected to remain out.
Iraola's squad was stretched last time out, naming two goalkeepers and four players under 20 on the bench, so he will hope Tyler Adams and Alex Scott can recover as soon as possible from their recent setbacks.
Marcos Senesi and Julian Araujo are still some way away from a return, while fellow defender Adam Smith is also set for a few more weeks on the sidelines.
Everton will remain without Dwight McNeil due a knee injury, and captain Seamus Coleman is also on the treatment table with the minor calf problem he sustained late on against Man City.
James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are the only other absentees, but Dyche has confirmed they are making good progress and should return this month.
Armando Broja was handed his full debut against Forest, but it is likely Dyche will revert back to using Dominic Calvert-Lewin again, despite his ongoing 14-game scoreless run.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Lindstrom, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
We say: Bournemouth 3-0 Everton
Bournemouth were woeful for 85 minutes in the reverse fixture before a staggering late win, but they should make much lighter work of this one against an Everton side devoid of ideas and confidence.
Everton have still never won a Premier League game at the Vitality, and everything the Cherries excel at is what they are currently lacking, and a repeat of last week's performance could result in another ugly scoreline.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
