Everton vs. AFC Bournemouth: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

This is a tough game to call. The Toffees are flying under David Moyes but Bournemouth's form has been exceptional this season. Everton are on a three-match winning run, while Bournemouth are unbeaten away from home in their last six.

Ultimately, we think this one will end all square, and with Bournemouth's long injury list, they might begin to feel the physical effects of extra time a bit more than the home side. Everton 2-1 Bournemouth (a.e.t).

Everton hope their resurgence under David Moyes will continue this weekend as they face off against Bournemouth in the FA Cup fourth round.

• Date: 08/02/2025
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton are coming into this game in their best moment of the season. After the return of David Moyes in light of Sean Dyche’s departure, the Toffees have been surging, and the mood around the club has completely transformed. After losing Moyes’ first game in charge, Everton are now amidst a three-match winning run, something they haven’t managed since April of last year.

Crucially, Moyes seems to have got the team scoring goals, with the club from Merseyside scoring eight goals in their last three matches. By comparison, Everton had scored only eight goals in their last 13 league games prior to their win over Tottenham.

Everton are reportedly looking to do some business at the back end of the transfer window, and they’ve been linked with numerous midfielders and attackers. They could certainly do with some reinforcements, especially in the forward areas, despite their recent uptick in front of goal.

The Toffees are now nine points clear of Leicester in 18th, so they’ve opened up a thick cushion between themselves and the dreaded relegation zone. With that, the FA Cup should take up a place of increased importance, as a deep run in this competition is probably something the fanbase needs.

Bournemouth find themselves amidst one of the best seasons in the club’s history. The Cherries come into this game just one point shy of the Champions League places having been one of the league’s most impressive teams. Even if they don’t finish in the top four, they’re in firm contention for a Europa League place at a minimum.

That could, then, affect how they treat this competition, as rightly or wrongly, teams tend to prioritise attempts to secure European football for the following season over whatever chance they might have of winning the FA Cup. The Cherries should really consider their stance on that though, because it’s not at all uncommon for teams outside of the usual big few to reach the final of this competition, and they have as good of a chance as any. For a team that’s never won a major trophy, it could be many years before they’re as good as they are now, so their chance of winning this trophy may never be as high as it is this season.

Remarkably, Bournemouth have only progressed beyond the fourth round of the FA Cup three times in their entire history: last season, where they lost to Leicester City in the fifth round; 2020/21, where they were beaten by Southampton in the quarter-finals, and 1988/89, where Man United dumped them out in the last 16. They do, then, have an opportunity to at least deliver their fans the best FA Cup campaign in the club’s history, even if they don’t go all the way.

This game will not be televised live in the UK, but full radio coverage will be provided by BBC Radio Merseyside.

Everton Team News:

The Toffees are still without Dwight McNeil, Youssef Chermiti and Séamus Coleman, as the trio continue their attempts to recover from injury, while Orel Mangala will play no further part this season after suffering an ACL injury.

After a comprehensive win last weekend, the Toffees could go with the same XI that started that game, with David Moyes expected to name a strong lineup.

Predicted lineup: Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Lindstrøm, Doucouré, Ndiaye; Beto.

Bournemouth Team News:

The Cherries will once again be missing Evanilson, Alex Scott, Marcos Senesi, Julián Araujo, Luis Sinisterra, Adam Smith and James Hill.

A change or two could be on the cards for Andoni Iraola, with Marcos Tavernier hoping for a recall to the starting XI.

Predicted lineup: Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouattara.

Everton:

Everton's form is good, as the Toffees enter this game with four wins and one loss from their last five outings. Most recently, David Moyes' men cruised to a 4-0 win over Leicester City, with goals from Abdoulaye Doucouré and Illiman Ndiaye, alongside a brace from Beto, getting the job done.

Before that, Everton won 1-0 away at Brighton thanks to an Iliman Ndiaye penalty, which came after a 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur - courtesy of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ndiaye and an own goal - and a 0-1 defeat to Aston Villa.

Those results followed a comfortable 2-0 win over Peterborough United via goals from Beto and Ndiaye.

Bournemouth:

Bournemouth's form is also strong, with Iraola's side boasting three wins, one draw and one defeat from their last five outings. The weekend's fixture saw them fall to a 0-2 loss at home to Liverpool, which came after a thumping 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest, thanks to goals from Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo and a Dango Ouattara hat-trick.

Prior to that, a Kluivert hat-trick along with a goal from Miloš Kerkez produced an impressive 4-1 win at Newcastle, which was preceded by a 2-2 draw at Chelsea, where Kluivert and Semenyo got the goals, and a 5-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup, with Kluivert, Ouattara (X2), Semenyo and Jebbison scoring the goals.

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