Everton’s strikers have largely struggled to score this season, meaning there is a huge impetus on players in other areas to put the ball in the back of the net.
David Moyes’ side are the fourth-lowest scorers in the Premier League this season, with only Wolves, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest having fared worse in the top-flight.
Everton cannot rely on Thierno Barry and Beto to be prolific, with only the latter scoring this season – while Barry continues to go on a barren run that has seen him fail to record a shot on target.
And that could see their secret weapon in Michael Keane turn up on the south coast, having proven to be Bournemouth’s nemesis in recent meetings with the Cherries.
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Michael Keane has a strong record against Bournemouth when it comes to scoring goals
Everton have largely struggled in the Premier League away at Bournemouth in the past, drawing two and losing six of their eight clashes on the south coast against the Cherries.
But despite Andoni Iraola’s men having the mental edge over David Moyes heading into Tuesday night’s fixture, they will be wary of Michael Keane performing well against them as he has done in recent years – despite the Spaniard singling out Everton’s attacking stars for praise.
Whose prediction do you agree with?
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Brogan: Bournemouth 1-1 Everton
Mark: Bournemouth 2-2 Everton
Will: Bournemouth 3-1 Everton
The centre-back has two goals in his last five games against Bournemouth, with one coming in a famous 3-2 collapse at Goodison Park last season, whilst he was also on the scoresheet in the 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium in August 2018.
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Playing the full ninety in each, he will be starting again on Tuesday given the need for Jake O’Brien to be at right-back – and he could act as Bournemouth’s Achilles’ heel with Everton needing three points to potentially put them into the top half of the Premier League table.
Michael Keane has scored some important goals for Everton down the years
Despite being a centre-back, Michael Keane has been a solid addition for Everton in the final third and he’s come up with some incredible moments for the club.
Scoring the only goal in a win over Norwich City in 2020, the opener in a Europa League clash against Hajduk Split in 2017 and a header in the Merseyside derby in 2020, Keane has ramped that up in recent times.
Some interesting takeaways from Moyes’ presser…
But two of his most remembered goals will be the first of Everton’s famous comeback against Crystal Palace to secure Premier League survival in May 2022, and a last-minute long-range strike against Tottenham Hotspur back in April 2023.
Even in his last 36 Premier League games, Keane has six goals to his name – marking him as one of the Toffees’ top goalscorers in that time.
Fans will be hoping that he can produce something heroically similar at the Vitality Stadium this weekend.
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