With the first international break of the season done and dusted, Bournemouth and Everton return to Premier League action as the pair face off at the Vitality Stadium this Sunday.
Save a shock defeat to newly-promoted Aston Villa, Marco Silva's Toffees have gone unbeaten in their other games so far, and they could draw level on points with champions Manchester City if they pick up a win on the south coast this weekend.
But Eddie Howe's side will be keen to dig themselves out of any prospective relegation scenario too, having only taken four points from a possible 12 across their opening stretch, leaving them perilously near the foot of the table.
| Game | Bournemouth vs Everton |
| Date | Sunday, September 15 |
| Time | 2pm BST / 9am ET |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
For UK readers, get your fix on the latest football on TV here! US readers can find out what soccer is on TV here!
In the United States (US), the game can be watched on NBCSN. It can be streamed via NBCSports.com
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| NBCSN | NBCSports.com |
In the UK, the match will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. It can be streamed via Sky Go.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League | Sky Go |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Bournemouth squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ramsdale, Boruc, Travers |
| Defenders | Smith, Steve Cook, Mepham, Ake, Stacey, Rico, Simpson, Kelly, Francis |
| Midfielders | Harry Wilson, Lerma, Billing, Fraser, Lewis Cook, Ibe, Butcher, Surman, Kilkenny |
| Forwards | King, Charlie Wilson, Solanke, Dobre |
Confirmed Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale; Stacey, Cook, Ake, Rico; Cook, Billing, Wilson; Solanke; Wilson, King
| Position | Everton squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Pickford, Stekelenburg |
| Defenders | Baines, Keane, Holgate, Digne, Mina, Sidibe, Coleman, Feeney |
| Midfielders | Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin, Bernard, Gomes, Davies, Delph |
| Forwards | Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Walcott, Tosun, Iwobi, Kean, Niasse |
Confirmed Everton XI: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Schneiderlin, Delph; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Iwobi; Calvert-Lewin
Betting & Match Odds
Everton have got the backing of the bookies with odds of 5/4 at bet365. Bournemouth are meanwhile available at 21/10, while the draw can be backed at 5/2.
Match Preview
Getty ImagesIt may be early days yet, with no big six test yet to cross their path, but Everton have every reason to feel optimistic about their chances of breaking the stronghold at the top of the Premier League this season.
Save a minor hiccup, the Toffees look like they could match the heavyweights of English football in 2019-20, and indeed have the chance to propel themselves into the top four with a win against Bournemouth this weekend.
Having recruited with a shrewdness for the most part over the last few transfer windows, the Merseyside outfit boast a number of seasoned internationals and top talents among their squad, and could be poised to cause a splash in the top flight.
One major player key to their sterling start to the campaign is defender Lucas Digne, who has proved to be just as vital at the front as he is at the back, being directly involved in more goals than virtually any other defensive player in the league over the past 12 months.
The 26-year-old has played alongside some of the world's greatest players during his career, but has struggled to stand out as a free-kick specialist, until he was able to shine at Goodison Park.
“Taking a free kick is not some new skill that suddenly appeared out of the blue,” the France international recently told Goal. “I took free kicks when I was young, but the last time I scored one was with France Under-19 when we beat the Netherlands 6-0.
“I knew I could take free kicks well, I just didn’t have the chance with my previous clubs. At the elite level you know the hierarchy, and when you play in a team with absolute world-class players – legends, even - like Zlatan in PSG, Totti in at Roma and especially Messi in Barca, then there is no way that you just walk up and take the ball out of their hands before a free kick."
Down the other end of the table however, the Cherries have seen contrasting fortunes for the most part, with striker Josh King admitting that the September international break likely came at a good time to help them recalibrate.
“It’s been a very mixed bag," he told the club's website. “I thought we put in a good performance against Manchester City and them and Liverpool are the two best teams in the league.
“[But] I [don't] think anyone played well against Leicester and we all [know] it. It’s in the back of everyone’s mind that it was a bad performance and we want to make it right against Everton.
“Every time we play Everton, it’s a good game to watch. We’re both attacking and both box to box.
“We haven’t performed how we should have in the first four games and maybe the international break came at a good time because we can regroup and focus on Sunday because we need three points.”