Everton’s players know they simply have to win on Sunday and their Premier League status will be secure but it’s imperative that they ensure the importance of the game to the club works in their favour.
Along with Leeds United and Leicester City, Sean Dyche’s men know just one of the trio will survive in the top flight after the final round of matches. But with the Blues’ fate in their own hands, victory over Bournemouth ensures they would avoid a first relegation in 72 years regardless of what goes on elsewhere with Sam Allardyce’s team hosting Tottenham Hotspur and Dean Smith’s side entertaining West Ham United.
Out of the 27 potential win/lose/draw scenarios over the three fixtures, 17 of the permutations keep Everton up but they don’t have to be concerned with how far the odds are in their favour if they take care of business themselves. For ex-Blues defender Michael Ball, who survived a similar last day escape at Goodison Park some 25 years ago when he and his team-mates stayed up on goal difference ahead of Bolton Wanderers after a nervous 1-1 draw with Coventry City, the motivation to go and get the three points should have been some six months in the making.
