Everton vs Bournemouth score, result as Doucoure stunner sees Toffees survive Premier League relegation fight

Joe Wright

•
Everton vs Bournemouth score, result as Doucoure stunner sees Toffees survive Premier League relegation fight image

GOODISON PARK, LIVERPOOL — Everton will be playing Premier League football in 2023/24 after finishing the season with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth.

A victory on the final day of the season was all they needed to guarantee they would avoid relegation and send Leicester City and Leeds United down to the Championship instead. It took until the second half for the goal to arrive, but when it did, it was worth the wait — Abdoulaye Doucoure's superb first-time shot from the edge of the Bournemouth box sparked bedlam in the stands.

This was hardly a scintillating game of football against a Bournemouth side whose own safety had long since been assured, but Toffees fans will not care one iota. Their players made up for a lack of quality play with unrelenting determination to get the job done, and the noise that greeted the final whistle was ear-splitting.

Everton's problems were not solved today — there were chants of "sack the board" after full-time — but their immediate future is secure. Their proud record of having never been relegated in the Premier League era remains intact.

MORE: How many times have Everton been relegated in history?

Everton vs Bournemouth final score

  FT Goal scorers
Everton 1 Doucoure
Bournemouth 0 —

Lineups:

Everton (3-4-2-1, right to left): Pickford (GK) — Coady, Mina, Tarkowski — Garner, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure — Iwobi, McNeil — Gray (Simms)

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1, right to left): Travers (GK) — Smith (Anthony), Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly — Billing, Lerma — Brooks (Vina), Christie (Moore), Outtara — Solanke

Everton survive, but the hard work starts now

Sean Dyche was brought to Goodison Park to ensure Premier League survival, and he has managed just that — but only just.

This was every bit the sort of nervy, scrappy affair one might have expected given what was at stake, with Doucoure's strike the one clear moment of quality. Everton won't care, of course, as they got the result they needed, but efforts must now be made to ensure they are not back in this situation again in a year's time.

There were loud chants of "sack the board" following the pitch invasion at full-time and frustration with the way the club is being run is not likely to dissipate just because they're staying in the top division. Things need to be done properly from this moment on, starting with the summer transfer window.

Dyche's old lieutenant Tarkowski carries Everton over the line

Everton started in a 3-4-2-1 set-up and showed little desire to defend high up the pitch from the off given what was at stake. That meant James Tarkowski could marshall a defence on the edge of his own penalty area — something he did with aplomb under Dyche at Burnley — and he was simply outstanding.

Bournemouth's attack did not offer much variation on a theme of crossfield passes an cut-backs, but Tarkowski made sure he was in the way every time and screened his goalkeeper magnificently. In the dying minutes, just when a break down the Bournemouth left looked threatening, he sprinted across and hacked the ball into the stands, earning the second-biggest cheer of the afternoon. Pickford's only real save in 100 minutes of action came from an ambitious volley at the edge of the Everton box.

On a day when Dyche needed to rely on a trusted old comrade, he wasn't let down.

Dyche under no illusions as to size of task at Everton

Dyche may have done the job he was hired to do, but he was in little mood to celebrate too much here. Indeed, he was eager to make it clear that there is significant work to be done to prevent another season like this.

"Horrible day for all concerned, other than getting the job done," he said, reflecting on the game.

"It's been very difficult. I said to the players [that] we shouldn't be here. So, enjoy today, but it's got to change. There's loads to change here and a lot of work to be done.

"You've seen the squad today — that's as stretched as I've ever seen it, but nobody would have cared today if we didn't get the job done. We found a way. The work done by my staff during the week was terrific. I'm really pleased with the players generally.

"Work on next season started the day I got here. Don't think I saw this as an easy fix, because it's not. We're not performing like a big club. We've got to find a way to change that. The Evertonians, as remarkable as they've been, have got to remember that. I haven't got magic dust. There is massive amounts of work to be done.

"We've got to demand more internally. There's been a reality check on the fans. We're not ready to be up there yet. It's a work in progress. We've got to be wise, recruit wisely, recruit players, if possible, who understand this club. We need to get that heartbeat, that mixture, but talent, of course.

"It's a time for realism, in my opinion. I think there's a hard edge to the fans, who think, no we're with you. It needs a rawness, a heartbeat. Fans want development, but they really want first-team footballers who can play and win, and that usually requires money. I don't think [there will be a war chest like before]. There's that beautiful stadium down the road and someone has to pay for that.

"I'm trying to tell you the truth, tell the Evertonians the truth. I can surround you with myths and say, 'look, we're going to play like Man City, it's going to be wonderful'. It's not. It's going to be hard work."

Everton vs Bournemouth live updates, highlights from Premier League

Fulltime: Everton 1-0 Bournemouth

It's all over! Everton will be playing Premier League football next season!

90 + 7 mins: A tannoy announcement reminds fans not to enter the pitch at the end of the game, and is greeted by plenty of boos. Everton are almost there.

90 + 5 mins: Big save from Pickford! Vina volleys goalwards from the edge of the box and Everton's keeper gets behind it to parry. "England's No.1," cry the home fans. At the other end, Doucoure charges into the box and manages to win a corner off Travers.

90 + 2 mins: Coady makes a fine sliding challenge to halt Solanke's run in the Everton box, but the offside flag was raised anyway.

90th min: There will be a minimum of 10 minutes of added time! This is not over yet.

88th min: McNeil's deep cross is met by Tarkowski, but he gets under the ball and heads it towards the top of the Sir Philip Carter Park stand. Everton have a little longer to hold on here...

85th min: Iwobi buys some time with a good run and shot that deflects behind for a corner. Gray, who has been struggling for the last few minutes, is replaced by Ellis Simms.

83rd min: Everton are living dangerously here. This time it's a teasing cross from the right from Outtara that misses the head of Billing by inches. Dyche is desperately urging his players on, but it's getting nervy in here.

79th min: Billing gets into a dangerous area in the Everton box but Tarkowski is there to clear his cut-back. He's had a fine game today. Everton break and Gray works space for a shot, but he slip just as he's about to pull the trigger and the ball flies harmlessly wide.

75th min: Pickford was looked at for some time by medical staff there — it seemed to be his hand that he had hurt. He is carrying on for now, though. Dyche is yet to make any substitutions, in fact.

69th min: Pickford does superbly to claw the ball away from the six-yard box. He then got in a tussle with Solanke, who was barged out of the way by Tarkowski, sparking something of a shoving match between the teams. Pickford is now receiving treatment for something.

66th min: Everton are now dropping back into a 5-4-1, and you can't blame them. It was hard to see where a goal was coming from until Doucoure produced a finish of the highest quality. They have to hang on now.

57th min: GOAL! Everton are in front and Goodison Park has erupted! Gueye's cross is headed away but it falls kindly to Doucoure on the edge of the box, and he lashes a first-time shot into the right-hand corner.

Watch in USA:

Watch in Australia:

Watch in UK:

54th min: Good play from Outtara to drive across the edge of the box and find Brooks, and Mina has to acrobatically clear the cross from in front of his own goal.

51st min: Chance for Gray! Iwobi's ball into the box from deep isn't cleared properly and it drops kindly for Gray just six yards out, but his header is straight at Travers and he gets down to make the save. Zabarnyi then prods it behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.

47th min: We seem to have picked up where we left off: Pickford and Gueye have already attempted pretty pointless long passes when there were far simpler options. The fans are getting restless.

Second half

No changes for the Toffees at the break. They've got to find something in the next 45 minutes, or they could be playing Championship football next season.

Halftime: Everton 0-0 Bournemouth

It's been a half of little quality, although Everton have generally looked the more likely to score. They need to, as well — as things stand, they will be relegated.

45 + 2 mins: Good save, Travers! The Bournemouth keeper punches Doucoure's cross well under pressure, Garner tries to lob the rebound into the net, but Travers is back up to tip the ball over. That's that for the first half.

45th min: Brilliant block from Mina! Tarkowski loses the ball to Brooks on the edge of the box, he combines well with Solanke, but Mina throws himself in front of the shot. The resulting corner is a poor one.

42nd min: Gray puts Zabarnyi under pressure and goes to ground in the area, but there wasn't much contact. Onana then tries an effort from 25 yards out but can't direct the ball on target.

39th min: Close for Bournemouth! Outtara prods the ball across the box but Senesi can't divert it home. That was the visitors' best opening.

34th min: Gueye tries his luck from the edge of the box and Travers makes a meal of the save. McNeil concedes a foul following the rebound. Meanwhile, the Bournemouth fans have started a rendition of "Going down, going down, going down" because Leicester City are 1-0 up.

31st min: Big chance for Gueye! Onana threads a pass into his feet as he runs into the Bournemouth box, but his effort goes over the bar. It looks like Travers got a touch on that. That was the best opening of the game so far.

Watch in UK:

29th min: Jordan Pickford has booted the ball into vacant space down the Everton left three times in the past couple of minutes. The fans have cheered every successful tackle, but they're getting frustrated with the home side's poor use of possession.

26th min: The home fans are furious that Christie escaped a yellow card for a foul on Garner, who did well under pressure to bring the ball out of defence down the right. You'd probably say Everton look the more likely to score, but it's very scrappy out there.

22nd min: There's a break in play as Travers receives treatment following a collision with Mina. Both sets of players make the most of their chance for a drink.

19th min: Everton win another corner after some good combination play between Iwobi and McNeil. James Tarkowski heads the delivery back across goal, but Solanke intercepts with a diving header.

16th min: Doucoure slips it through to Gray to the right of the six-yard box, the forward twists and turns, but his cross is blocked behind for a corner. McNeil's delivery is headed away and Gray wallops the loose ball over the bar. He's definitely been the liveliest of Everton's front three.

12th min: McNeil has a couple of attempts at a cross but neither reach a blue shirt. Gueye, who has been snapping into challenges from the off, is penalised for a foul on the edge of the Bournemouth box.

6th min: Everton are working hard in these early stages, but it's all a little hasty when they get on the ball. No chances to speak of yet.

Kickoff

We're off and running in the Merseyside sunshine.

5 mins to KO: The teams are out and the home fans are in full voice. This is going to be quite an occasion, whatever the result.

30 mins to KO: The atmosphere outside the stadium felt a bit subdued earlier, almost as though nervousness was getting the better of everyone. It's getting very loud inside the ground, though...

1 hour to KO: The teams are in. Everton are listed in a 4-1-4-1, with Conor Coady at right-back, but you sense it could be a back three with Demarai Gray and Dwight McNeil as wing-backs. Philip Billing is back in central midfield for the visitors.

1 hour 30 mins to KO: Three years ago, Bournemouth came to Goodison Park on the final day of the Premier League season and were relegated. There has been a suggestion that Gary O'Neil's players could be particularly fired up for today given the memories of 2020, although it's worth remembering that they actually won that game. It's hard to take revenge for a 3-1 victory.

1 hour 40 mins to KO: It's a clear, sunny day on Merseyside, so there'll be no complaints about the conditions for this one.

2 hours to KO: This is one of the most important days in Everton's modern history. Win, and they will be playing Premier League football next season. Any other result, and they could be relegated for the first time since 1951.

Everton vs Bournemouth lineups

Vitalii Mykolenko does not make the squad despite Sean Dyche's hope he would be available. Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out, along with full-back Nathan Patterson.

Everton starting lineup (4-1-4-1, right to left): Pickford (GK) — Coady, Mina, Tarkowski — Garner, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure — Iwobi, McNeil — Gray

Everton subs (12): Begovic (GK), Lonergan (GK), Holgate, Keane, Maupay, McAllister, Simms, Welch

Philip Billing is back for Bournemouth after missing the 1-0 loss to Manchester United, while Hamed Traore and Joe Rothwell have not made the squad.

Bournemouth projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Travers (GK) — Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly — Billing, Lerma — Brooks, Christie, Outtara — Solanke

Bournemouth subs (12): Randolph (GK), Stephens, Cook, Mepham, Stacey, Vina, Moore, Anthony, Sadi

MORE: The confirmed teams in the Premier League 2023/24

Everton vs Bournemouth live stream, TV channel

  Date Time TV channel Streaming
USA May 28 11.30 a.m. EDT USA Network Fubo, Peacock,
NBC Sports site
Canada May 28 11.30 a.m. EDT — Fubo Canada
UK May 28 4.30 p.m. BST Sky Sports Main Event Sky Go
India May 28 9 p.m. IST — Hotstar VIP,
JioTV
Australia May 29 1.30 a.m. AEST — Optus Sport
New Zealand May 29 3.30 a.m. NZST — Sky Sport NOW
Hong Kong May 28 11.30 p.m. HKT Now Premier League
(Ch. 620-621)		 Now TV
Malaysia May 28 11.30 p.m. MYT — Astro Go
Singapore May 28 11.30 p.m. SGT Hub Premier
(Ch. 221-222)		 StarHub TV+

USA: The match will be televised on USA Network and that channel is streamed on Fubo. A stream will also be carried by Peacock for subscribers.

Canada: Every Premier League game streams live on Fubo Canada.

UK: The match will be televised on Sky Sports Main Event and streamed on Sky Go.

Australia: Every match from the Premier League streams live and on demand on Optus Sport.

Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe is a Senior Editor at Sporting News. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has reported live on some of the biggest games in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup final at the end of a month in Russia.