Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil believes many would have predicted his side to be heading to Goodison Park in the position Everton find themselves in.
The Blues head into Sunday’s contest knowing a victory will retain their Premier League status. Sean Dyche’s side currently occupy the final safe spot of 17th in the table.
Yerry Mina’s 99th-minute leveller earned the Blues a point against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, but it now all goes on the line at what will be a super-charged occasion at Goodison.
READ MORE: Sean Dyche explains what Everton must show and need in Bournemouth relegation decider
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville make Everton relegation claims after Leicester draw at Newcastle
Bournemouth, however, arrive on Merseyside with their Premier League status for next season already confirmed after a string of impressive results over the past few months. But O’Neil believes many would have expected his side to be arriving at Goodison battling to stay up.
He said: "I think everyone felt that the Everton game would probably be pivotal for both of us. Definitely us, maybe not Everton, so the fact that it isn't for us shows what a good achievement it was from the players.
"One thing to stay up, another thing to stay up with four games to spare. So very impressive, from a group without quite a lot of people, and you saw again, they’ll run, they’ll work, that they do whatever’s asked of them.
"(An) incredible group. It's obviously nice that we get to come in, enjoy training, start to switch focus a little bit, discussions around next season and sort of things taking place with the recruitment team, now we know what league we're going to be in.
"So, being successful as early as we did and getting the job done means that we can start to plan."
Asked what his plans for the week ahead was, O’Neil said: "Give the boys a little bit (to) recover from (the weekend), obviously a slightly longer week, an extra day.
"So, get the boys recovered and then ask them again to be ready to suffer and sacrifice like they did (against Manchester United).
"I think that the three games we’ve played since we have been safe, Chelsea and the Man United ones are what performances need to look like.
"And I'm sure the boys enjoyed (the Manchester United game) a lot more than they did last week.
"Important that we get them ready to go again, make sure that we're very competitive at Everton, and try and put one more win on the table for the season."
READ NEXT:
We've done that' - Dean Smith sends relegation message to Everton after Leicester draw at Newcastle
- Everton investment state of play after Farhad Moshiri and MSP strike 'exclusivity' deal
-
Everton relegation battle scenarios explained after Leicester draw at Newcastle
- Abdoulaye Doucoure contract latest as Everton set to take advantage of clause
James Garner reveals how the Everton dressing room reacted to Wolves draw
