Paul Merson believes that Everton will respond to the growing pressure surrounding Goodison Park and sneak a win over Bournemouth.
The Toffees have won just two of their last 10 Premier League games, and currently lie 11th in the table, level on points with Saturday’s visitors.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson admitted that it was likely to be a tight game, but backed the Blues to edge the encounter.
He said: “You just don’t know what you’re going to get with these two teams. The way these teams have played recently, no result would leave me surprised. Nothing would shock me.
“The pressure is on Everton, they need to win the game. And with Bournemouth so soft away from home, I think the Toffees will win.”
Merson believes Everton will win 2-1.
OPINION
Marco Silva has to start winning games and winning them quickly. This midseason slump is threatening to derail their entire campaign, and after the investment that was doled out over the summer, anything but a serious challenge for European football must be considered a disappointment. That being said, Silva deserves the opportunity to see through his project at Everton, and one below par season shouldn’t be enough to consign him to the scrapheap. If the Blues can pick up a win on Saturday and steal a march on one of the sides around them, it could be exactly the kind of momentum boost they need to kickstart their season, and to see them rocket up the table. The quality is in the squad without a doubt, and they have looked impressive at times this season, but there have been too many false starts under Silva, and the Toffees need to pull their socks up and start putting games like this one to bed.