Paul Merson predicts Everton vs Bournemouth result after Luton Town ‘shocker’ that ‘will knock them sideways’
Paul Merson has predicted more Goodison Park misery for Everton with yet another home defeat this week when Bournemouth come to town.
The Sky Sports pundit said in his Sportskeeda predictions on 5 October that the “shocker” of a result against Luton Town last week – a 2-1 home defeat – “will knock them sideways” and has tipped the Cherries to do the same on Saturday (7 October).
Bournemouth are yet to win a game in the Premier League this season but Merson has predicted them to end that run with a 1-0 victory over a Toffees side that pulled off an “extraordinary” away win at Brentford only a fortnight ago.
Merson said: “Not too long ago, Everton pulled off an extraordinary away win and were a mid-table team. They went on to lose to Luton and if they suffer a similar fate this weekend, they’ll find themselves in a relegation battle. They had a shocker against Luton and the result will knock them sideways.
“Bournemouth are one of only two teams that are yet to win a game in the Premier League this season. I know they’ve been poor so far, but they do look threatening at times and I’m backing them to win this match.”
Response required
Two home defeats in a row against sides that hadn’t beaten anyone yet this year would comprehensively negate the positivity generated by the 3-1 win at Brentford followed by knocking Aston Villa out of the League Cup.
Whatever the issue this Everton side currently have at home needs to be weeded out as a matter of priority because the miserable form at Goodison is going to undercut any efforts elsewhere.
For most of the past two seasons it has been the games in front of the Evertonians that this side were relying on to avoid relegation, so for the situation to change so markedly this term is a concern.
On the balance of play they could, and surely should, have won two of their previous games on Merseyside this season at a minimum.
So whether it is simply luck, or whether the added pressure of producing for the home fans has been causing a lack of composure at crucial times, it needs to be dealt with very quickly.
In theory Sean Dyche’s side should be able to rebound against one of the few teams who have got off to a worse start than them, and a win here would have things looking up again as a third victory in four games across all competitions.
In other Everton news, a new Toffees arrival doesn’t “want to say anything out of turn” over his dramatic move thi summer.