When Bournemouth invested £40 million in Brazilian forward Evanilson, not many expected the club to find such an accurate stylistic match for Roberto Firmino. However, his performances on the south coast are starting to echo those of the former Liverpool star during his prime.
The comparison with Firmino goes far beyond nationality or position. Evanilson tirelessly presses opponents' defenders and seamlessly links the attacking play of the team. A standout moment came during the match against Sunderland, where the Brazilian first showcased his strength and technique to help create the opening goal before prompting Kevin Danso’s red card with his relentless pressure.
The highlight of the encounter was a classic goal in the Firmino style: intercepting a poor back pass from Omar Alderete, Evanilson outfoxed goalkeeper Robin Rufs with a deft trick before slotting the ball home without even looking at the net.
Tactical shifts under Marco Rose
Interestingly, Evanilson is the only Bournemouth player with assists in the current Premier League season, already amassing four—more than in the entire last campaign. Much of this can be attributed to the tactical shifts instigated by head coach Marco Rose.
He holds onto the ball, drops deeper, and presses effectively. His work rate is truly phenomenal,
Rose noted. He emphasised that when the forward drops back into the 'nine-and-a-half' or even 'ten' role, his technical skills become incredibly advantageous. His effectiveness in the opposition’s half and tireless work off the ball make Evanilson the perfect embodiment of Jurgen Klopp's philosophy around a 'complete attacking player.'
