Chelsea will be well aware of the threats Bournemouth pose ahead of today's Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.
Bournemouth will be without Alex Scott, leaving Marcus Tavernier, Rayan, Justin Kluivert and Ryan Christie among the players Chelsea must keep a close eye on. Marco Rose's side offer a fluid attacking threat, with several players capable of making the difference. However, there is one Bournemouth forward whose influence cannot be measured by goals alone.
Evanilson arrives at Stamford Bridge without a goal to his name this season, which could lead some Chelsea fans to view him as a limited threat to Xabi Alonso's defence.
That would be a mistake. His contribution to Bournemouth's attack goes far beyond his finishing, with his movement, pressing and ability to bring teammates into play making him an important part of their tactical setup.
His movement off the ball, hold-up play and quick link-up passes are designed to disrupt opposition defences and create opportunities for his teammates. It could prove to be a problem for the Brazilian in this game as coming up against a three-man centre defence will hopefully nulify his movement and impact.
Rather than operating as a traditional out-and-out striker focused solely on scoring goals, Evanilson acts as both a facilitator and a physical focal point for Bournemouth's attack.
With three assists already to his name, the Brazilian's contribution goes beyond finishing chances. He looks to pull centre-backs out of position, compete in physical duels and bring Bournemouth's dynamic attacking midfielders into play as they make forward runs.
For Chelsea, the danger lies in focusing too heavily on stopping Evanilson himself. While keeping him quiet is important, the Blues must also track the runners who exploit the space he creates.
When he drops deeper to link play or occupies the central defenders, gaps can open up for Bournemouth's wingers and attacking midfielders to attack. If Chelsea's defence loses its shape or fails to track those runs, Evanilson could prove decisive without scoring a goal himself.
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