The last time AFC Bournemouth and Everton met, Andoni Iraola’s side made one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League history as they turned the scoreline from a 2-0 loss in the 86th minute of the match into a 3-2 win.
Despite that late victory, Iraola will be hoping for his team not to make such an improbable comeback this time and for the Cherries to take three points to possibly take them as high as fourth in the Premier League table.
Iraola discussed multiple areas of the game, his squad and the January transfer window in his latest pre-match press conference.
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Injuries and returns
Discussing the recent injuries and suspensions the Cherries have faced, Iraola touched on Tyler Adams, Justin Kluivert and Adam Smith.
The Spaniard said: “We are going to recover Tyler Adams, he was out the other day but he has a very small thing so we expect him to be available tomorrow.
"Obviously, Justin [Kluivert] was suspended so there will be another addition and I don’t expect anyone else back for the Everton game.”
When asked about the return of Smith, Iraola said: “No, I don’t know exactly when he will come back.
"It’s true that we have some players already going outside and training by their own pitch, like Adam [Smith], like Tav [Marcus Tavernier], like Sini [Luis Sinisterra.] But no, they haven’t trained with the team still.”
Despite the injuries the team has faced, the head coach showed praise to the youngsters who have been used for the team on match days.
Iraola said: “They are helping us a lot in the trainings and normally they don’t have the reward to play, but with the situation we had the other day, Ben (Winterburn) had to play. He was very good.
"They will keep helping us and I think they are part of our team also even if they don’t normally play with us on the weekends and we have to use them, especially in these circumstances.”
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Eyes on transfers
Taking into consideration the injuries the team has faced, January could see the Cherries looking at and signing players whilst the transfer window is open.
Asked whether the club will be looking to sign anyone this transfer window, Iraola said: “For me, my biggest worry is to recover the players we already have, the ones that are injured and I think we need them and that will be our main focus.
“But it's true that when the market is open, you don’t know whats going to happen and we'll see. But it's not an easy market, normally, the winter market and the club is working on it, but a lot of times it is about the things that you can not control.”
Though Iroala's stated focus is not on signing players during this transfer window, when asked whether he would possibly sign someone, he said: “I think depending on the quality of the player, if we can sign someone that will make a difference for us and contribute straight away and be helpful for the team, obviously every manager would say yes.”
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Facing a “dangerous” Everton side
Looking ahead to the match at the Vitality Stadium, Iraola was asked about the Everton team his squad will be facing.
The Spaniard said: “I think they are a dangerous team, not because of that game [the previous meeting] but because they’ve played this month against Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and they haven’t lost.
"I think they have seven clean sheets. You can see the goals they conceded in the last 13, 14 games and it is less than one goal a game.”
He added: “We will have to be clinical because they don’t normally give you a lot of chances.
Despite winning his last two games against Everton, Iraola said that his team need to be ready for a good battle looking at the recent form Everton have against the top teams.
Iraola said: “Every game we’ve played against them has been very fouled. We haven’t been really comfortable, even if we’ve won the last two. But we have to be ready to win the duels, to be tactically very disciplined. And I expect a little bit of the same.”
“I think we have to try to play our strengths, try to play the more we can with a high tempo, not allowing them to be comfortable.
"Sometimes we have to be patient because they have a very good defence, so it's not going to be easy to just put them under pressure”
