Premier League Round 2 brings Bournemouth back to Vitality Stadium to face an Everton side that opened the season with a tidy win. The Cherries are looking to respond after a narrow 2-1 defeat on opening weekend, while the Toffees arrive with momentum and a clean sheet. It is a good early gauge of where Marco Rose and David Moyes have their teams after Matchweek 1.

The numbers add a nice subplot. Bournemouth posted an average Sofascore Rating of 6.89 in their first outing, whereas Everton led the way with 8.17. With both clubs listed in a projected 4-2-3-1 and lineups not yet confirmed, small tweaks could decide a fixture that has produced plenty of storylines in recent years.

Premier League Round 2 at Vitality Stadium

The match is set at Vitality Stadium, a compact ground of 11,307 seats that often amplifies energy on the touchlines. Bournemouth’s opening game returned 34 percent possession, five total shots and an expected goals figure of 0.65, which hints at a more selective, transition-minded approach at home. Everton, by contrast, registered 16 shots, five on target and 1.12 xG in their 2-0 start, a sign of efficient chance creation under Moyes. Both teams are listed in a 4-2-3-1 shape for this one, which could turn midfield second balls into a key battleground.

Referee Chris Kavanagh has the whistle. Across 381 matches he has shown 1,407 yellow cards and 33 reds, roughly 3.7 yellows per game. That dovetails with recent team trends on discipline, where both sides often land under 4.5 total cards. With Round 2 still early in the Premier League 26/27 season, the tempo and physical tone set by Kavanagh could shape how high Bournemouth press and how boldly Everton push their full backs.

Form guide and head-to-head

Bournemouth’s recent streaks show a mixed picture. They are three matches without a win and eight without a clean sheet in all competitions, yet they have started proceedings well by opening the scoring in four of their last five. Goals have flowed in Cherries fixtures too, with more than 2.5 goals in six straight and both teams scoring in eight. That blend of front-foot starts and defensive leaks usually makes their games eventful at Vitality.

Everton travel in good shape, unbeaten in four and first to score in five of their last six. They also trend low on cards, under 4.5 in nine straight, and have seen more than 10.5 corners in five of their last seven. The head-to-head has leaned Bournemouth’s way lately. The team duel reads Bournemouth seven wins to Everton’s three, with no draws in that sample. Across the last six meetings in all competitions, Bournemouth have won five, including away wins of 2-0 and 3-0 and a home league success by 1-0, while Everton claimed one tight win on the south coast. Managerially, Marco Rose holds a 15-4-5 edge over David Moyes in prior meetings, which adds another layer to this rivalry.

How the numbers stack up

From a pure data lens, Everton’s first match output looked robust. Sixteen total shots, 11 from inside the box and five on target point to a steady supply of quality. They produced 13 key passes, spread possession at 82 percent accuracy, and won 53 percent of their total duels. The clean sheet also came with four saves and 19 clearances, suggesting a compact, timely rearguard that handled crosses and second phases well.

Bournemouth’s attacking return was leaner but clinical enough to threaten. They landed four shots on target from five attempts, created one big chance and made three corners. Their xG on target outpaced raw xG (1.70 vs 0.65), which hints at decent shot placement when they did pull the trigger. Out of possession, they were busy and brave, racking up 16 tackles, 13 interceptions and 28 clearances. Duels were a grind at 45 percent won, and possession lost (112) was noticeable, but their long-ball accuracy of nearly 60 percent can flip the field quickly. Expect moments where Bournemouth seek Marcus Tavernier or Justin Kluivert early in space, while Everton attempt to pin them with sustained pressure.

Players to watch

For Bournemouth, Đorđe Petrović stands out after a strong Matchweek 1. The goalkeeper posted a 7.7 Sofascore Rating, made four saves and logged 0.68 goals prevented. He was tested inside the box and handled the traffic with two clearances and one punch. His distribution mixed longer chips with 24 accurate passes, helping Bournemouth play out or bypass the press when needed. If Everton generate the same volume of shots again, Petrović’s positioning and handling could be central to the home side’s result.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall leads the Everton watchlist. He opened the season with an 8.6 Sofascore Rating and a goal, added two key passes and completed 32 accurate passes at 86 percent. Eighteen of those were into the final third, which speaks to how he links play and arrives late in scoring positions. He also won five ground duels and contributed two tackles, showing the work rate Moyes prizes in his attacking midfielders. With Tyrique George and Iliman Ndiaye also lively in the opener, Dewsbury-Hall’s timing between the lines may be the difference-maker.

Team news, referee and match outlook

Bournemouth list several absentees. Forward Amine Adli is out with a calf injury, while forward Eli Junior Kroupi has a foot problem. Defensively, Julián Araujo is sidelined with a thigh issue and Veljko Milosavljević is unavailable due to a knock. Everton report two midfield injuries, with Christian Nørgaard and Tim Iroegbunam both dealing with muscle problems. With lineups not confirmed, both managers have decisions to make in the wide areas and at the base of midfield.

Referee Chris Kavanagh’s card profile aligns with the clubs’ recent trend of fewer bookings, which may suit technical midfield play and quicker restarts. On the betting board, the 1X2 shows Bournemouth at 2.05, the draw at 3.50 and Everton at 3.60 in decimal odds. The Asian handicap features Bournemouth -0.5 at 2.05 and Everton +0.5 at 1.80. Corners could be busy again, with the head-to-head showing over 10.5 corners in six of the last eight meetings. If Everton replicate their 42 percent possession with clean progression and Bournemouth continue to create from transitions, we could see a tight game that opens up late.

For live build-up, in-play stats, and minute-by-minute Sofascore Ratings, follow the match on Sofascore. It is a good early-season barometer for both projects. Bournemouth want their first win and a clean sheet to settle the home crowd. Everton aim to extend their unbeaten run and keep their final-third efficiency ticking. Small margins, set pieces, and goalkeeper form look decisive here.