When Everton and Bournemouth square off in a Premier League match on Saturday at Goodison Park, it may be the third time lucky.
Both teams are yet to secure a victory in the top division this season; the Cherries, however, have not lost in their first two games, while the Toffees are still seeking their first taste of Premier League success.
Fans of Everton may have felt a little more upbeat about their team's chances in North London if they had seen Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League debut draw against Leicester City, in which the Lilywhites' brutality was absent.
But against the depleted Toffees defense, who let up two goals to Son Heung-min and one each to Cristian Romero and Yves Bissouma in a four-goal rout, Ange Postecoglou's team unavoidably found their shooting boots again. This came after a three-goal thrashing at home against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Due to their poor defensive record, Everton is already holding onto 20th place in the Premier League standings. However, they received a much-needed boost in midweek when Dwight McNeil, Iliman Ndiaye, and Beto defeated Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup.
Everton's efforts were rewarded with an all-Premier League match against Southampton in round three. The Toffees' five top-flight losses under Dyche will come to an end in 2024, marking the end of their monthly curse under the manager.
