The Premier League delivered another intriguing clash on February 10, 2026, as Everton welcomed Bournemouth to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. Both sides entered the contest in fine form, each enjoying a five-match unbeaten run that had lifted them out of early-season struggles and into the thick of the race for European spots. With Everton sitting eighth on 37 points and Bournemouth just three points behind in 11th, the stakes were high for this Tuesday night fixture.
Everton’s home form had been a persistent talking point throughout their inaugural campaign at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Despite strong performances away from home, David Moyes’ men had found it tough to turn their new ground into a fortress. The Toffees had only won a third of their home matches, with four draws and four defeats, a record that left fans eager for a turnaround. Moyes, ever the pragmatist, addressed the issue in his pre-match press conference: “We have got to try to turn our away form into good home form. We have done a good job, we just need to make sure we can pick up another few wins at our stadium. Everybody enjoys it, we do, but maybe the opposition quite like it as well.”
The manager’s options were bolstered by a nearly full-strength squad, with the notable exception of creative spark Jack Grealish. Sidelined for the remainder of the season due to ankle surgery, Grealish’s absence was a blow, especially given his eight goal contributions in 17 appearances. Moyes confirmed, “Jack Grealish is out with a foot injury. The rest of the squad remain fit and available for the fixture.”
Everton’s starting lineup saw two significant changes from their dramatic comeback win at Fulham. Jarrod Branthwaite made his first home league start of the season, replacing Michael Keane at center-back, while young Tyrique George earned his home debut in place of Harrison Armstrong. The Toffees lined up with Pickford in goal, O’Brien, Tarkowski (captain), Branthwaite, and Mykolenko at the back, with Garner and Gueye anchoring midfield. The attacking midfield trio featured George, Dewsbury-Hall, and Ndiaye, supporting Barry up front. The bench offered depth, with Patterson, Beto, Keane, Iroegbunam, Armstrong, Travers, Dibling, Alcaraz, and Rohl all available.
Bournemouth, under the guidance of Andoni Iraola, arrived on Merseyside hoping to continue their own resurgence. The Cherries had shrugged off a winless November and December, taking 11 points from their last 15 available, including impressive victories over Tottenham and Liverpool and a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Aston Villa just three days earlier. Iraola’s pre-match comments reflected a healthy respect for the challenge: “I hope we are at the level as they’re in a very good moment, and it is going to be very demanding. Sometimes it is difficult to open the games against them as defensively, they are so solid. They are very strong in set-plays, and they have three defenders that lead in aerial duels. I hope we can control the game and not give them as many chances to threaten our box.”
Bournemouth’s squad was stretched by injuries, with Justin Kluivert (knee), Tyler Adams (knee), Marcus Tavernier (thigh), Ben Gannon-Doak (hamstring), and Julio Soler (undisclosed) all missing out. However, there was a boost as Adams returned to the bench after nearly two months out, while top scorer Junior Kroupi also dropped to the substitutes, perhaps a tactical move by Iraola. The Cherries’ starting eleven featured Petrovic in goal, Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, and Truffert in defense, Scott and Toth in midfield, with Christie (captain), Adli, Rayan, and Evanilson leading the line. The bench included Brooks, Kroupi, Cook, Smith, Unal, Diakite, Mandas, Milosavljevic, and Adams.
Statistically, the match promised to be a cagey affair. Everton had conceded the opening goal in each of their last four league games, while Bournemouth had scored first in 58% of their away matches this season—a figure well above the league average. The Cherries, however, had only managed two wins in 12 away games, often finding it tough to convert strong starts into three points. Both teams had a penchant for draws, with 37.5% of Everton’s home games and Bournemouth’s away fixtures ending level, and the betting markets reflected this expectation, making a tie the value play at +245 odds.
Defensively, Everton had shown improvement, keeping clean sheets in a third of their home matches. Moyes’ aerially dominant backline, led by Tarkowski and Branthwaite, had proven effective against creative opponents—most recently limiting Albion to just 1.44 expected goals and shutting out Aston Villa on the road. Bournemouth, meanwhile, had scored in 92% of their away games, but their defensive record was less impressive, conceding 30 goals in 12 away fixtures. The Cherries’ tendency to draw away from home (42% of matches) suggested resilience but also a vulnerability to late equalizers.
On the attacking front, Everton’s challenge was to compensate for Grealish’s absence. The likes of Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye were expected to shoulder more creative responsibility, while Barry’s movement up front offered a consistent threat. For Bournemouth, the pace of Rayan and the skill of Adli and Evanilson gave them the tools to trouble Everton’s back line, especially in transition. The tactical battle in midfield, with Scott and Toth for the visitors and Garner and Gueye for the hosts, was always likely to be decisive.
As the match unfolded, the action was as tight as predicted. Both teams created chances but found clear-cut opportunities hard to come by. The first half saw Bournemouth pressing high and Everton probing patiently, neither side able to break the deadlock. Substitutions were held back as both managers waited for the right moment to tip the balance. According to BBC Sport’s live coverage, “No players have been substituted yet,” highlighting the tense, evenly matched nature of the contest.
With both teams entering the evening on unbeaten runs and so much at stake in the league table, the sense of anticipation was palpable. A win for Bournemouth would have seen them leapfrog Everton, while three points for the hosts would have put them within touching distance of the European places and, perhaps more importantly, ahead of local rivals Liverpool. The match was broadcast live on Peacock, giving fans across the country a chance to witness this crucial mid-table battle.
As the final whistle approached, the scoreline remained deadlocked, reflecting the pre-match predictions and the statistical trends that had defined both teams’ seasons. The result keeps the Premier League’s race for European spots wide open, with both Everton and Bournemouth maintaining their unbeaten streaks and their hopes of a strong finish to the campaign. The Hill Dickinson Stadium may not have seen a home win, but it certainly hosted a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.