Everton will look to get over the disappointment of the EFL Cup defeat at the hands of Norwich City when they travel to the Vitality Stadium looking to cement their No.2 position in the league. Everton have gone off to a flier and the decision to remove Roberto Martinez already looks like a masterstroke from the new owner. Farhad Moshiri has pumped money into the club and by the early looks of it, he has his footballing plan in place. Ronald Koeman made the controversial switch from Southampton where he was progressing nicely but was regularly blighted by the sale of their star players at end of each season and the promise of getting a settled team to work with along with the stature of the club seems to have aided in his decision making.
Everton have looked rejuvenated and are looking sprightly in the field with an enhanced body language and will to succeed. Multiple times last season they looked bereft of ideas and wilted under any amount of pressure from the opposition side and were tactically naive. The way Koeman has spent the money acquired from John Stones’ sale has been his best bit of contribution till now and has given them massive scope for squad improvement in the January transfer window if they are able to sustain their unlikely European spot challenge till then. They will face Bournemouth on Saturday and will be wary of Eddie Howe’s impressive tactics which have got him praise from various quarters.
T4O’s PREDICTED LINE-UP VS BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1)
DEFENCE
Marten Stekelenburg will be stationed between the sticks and will have to be wary of the occasional attacks on his goal with the nervy first half against Middlesbrough likely to be at the back of his mind. The back four is expected to sport a strong look with Seamus Coleman lining up at right-back and Williams and Jagielka forming the central defensive pairing. Leighton Baines will be at left-back.
MIDFIELD
Koeman seems to have identified Gareth Barry and Idrissa Gueye as his ideal double pivot pairing and the duo will line up again. Ross Barkley will look to pull the strings from the No.10 role.
ATTACK
Kevin Mirallas will be hopeful of another starting berth as he continues his resurgence in the team while Yannick Bolasie will line up on the opposite side. Both of them have looked lively and their budding partnership with Romelu Lukaku will be an important part of where they eventually finish this season.
