Ancelotti wants final flourish as Everton wrap up season against Bournemouth

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti wants a repeat performance from the win at Sheffield United when the Toffees take on Bournemouth in the final game of the Premier League season on Sunday.

The Blues ended a run of four games with a win with a much-improved display at Bramall Lane, with Richarlison’s second half header enough to earn all three points.

Sadly for Everton, there is little riding on their final game, with the Toffees guaranteed to finishing an utterly underwhelming 11th or 12th.

Bournemouth arrive at Goodison needing a win to have any chance of avoiding the drop, with the Cherries battling with Aston Villa and Watford to avoid finishing in one of the two remaining relegation spots.

Speaking to the media on Friday ahead of the game, Ancelotti is demanding his players pick up where they left off on Sunday.

“It will be important to try to repeat the same game against Sheffield. We’ve done well at home and we want to finish the season well at home.

“When the attitude is there we can have the possibility to show our quality. You can show the quality only if the spirit is good. In the last game I think the players understood really well what went wrong against Wolves.”

Ancelotti has generally stuck with his tried-and-trusted 4-4-2 formation since his arrival, but switched to a 4-2-3-1 at Sheffield United, a move which brought the best out of Gylifi Sigurdsson, who looked much more comfortable in the number 10 position.

Speaking about the tactical switch, Ancelotti said:

“The idea doesn’t change. The position of Gylfi was helpful, he was used to playing this position so he gave us more opportunity. Even when we play without a No.10 the idea is still the same, to play between the lines.”

Ancelotti was also asked for his thoughts on VAR, with referee’s chief Mike Riley presenting his review of the technology’s first season in the Premier League on Friday.

The Toffees have found themselves on the wrong end of some controversial VAR calls this season, including against Manchester United in March, when Ancelotti was shown a red card for remonstrating with the referee after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late striker was disallowed.

“I think it is helpful, it was good for football I think. Offside, for example, is a really clear situation. Where we have to improve is on the handball in the box.”

Ancelotti also confirmed that Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate and Fabian Delph will again miss out on Sunday, meaning Jarrad Branthwaite is set to make his second start for the club.