Bournemouth’s Summer season of Change on the Vitality
It has been a blended begin to the 2025/26 Premier League marketing campaign for Bournemouth.
Having misplaced their beginning middle again duo Ilya Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen, in addition to beginning left again Milos Kerkez, beginning goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, and a vital winger in Dango Ouattara, there have been at all times sure to be some teething points because the Cherries regarded to rebound and begin a brand new chapter. To begin that new period, that they had the hardest doable opener: a visit to Anfield.
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Semenyo Sparks an Early Assertion at Anfield
Bournemouth regarded set for a complete defeat just for Antoine Semenyo to attain twice in fast succession to tie issues up. Nevertheless, Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah would rating within the remaining minutes to grab a 4-2 victory for defending champions Liverpool. Subsequent, it was off to the Vitality, the place Semenyo teed up Marcus Tavernier’s opener within the fourth minute. Toti Gomes noticed pink for a last-man deal with after the break, as Bournemouth held on for a 1-0 win.
They remained within the south coast however discovered themselves overwhelmed by a touring Brentford aspect who took the lead earlier than the break by way of Fabio Carvalho earlier than doubling their benefit by way of Igor Thiago to cement a 2-0 win within the EFL Cup. Nevertheless, Andoni Iraola’s aspect would rebound in spectacular vogue, with discovering Evanilson for the opening objective within the fifth minute. Bournemouth diligently defended and hit Tottenham in transition; regardless of having simply 31% possession, they racked up 1.59 xG and 20 photographs to Spurs’ 0.19 xG and 5 photographs.
Photograph IMAGO
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After prevailing 1-0 in North London, Bournemouth at present discover themselves in seventh place, degree on six factors with Sunderland, Everton, Tottenham and Arsenal, one level behind Chelsea, and three behind league leaders Liverpool. They’ll be seeking to proceed that on Saturday as they tackle Brighton at dwelling, going through off in opposition to a crew that, after beginning their season with a draw to Fulham and a loss at Everton, has since thrashed Oxford United 6-0 and pulled off a 2-1 win in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
Sticking With a Profitable Formulation – For Now
To date, Iraola has gone for the standard, unrotated XI for every of his first three matches: Djordje Petrovic begins in objective, Adam Smith, Bafode Diakite, Senesi and Adrien Truffert make up the again 4, Tyler Adams and Alex Scott function the double pivot, while Semenyo, Tavernier, and David Brooks work their magic up high behind Evanilson.
It stays to be seen whether or not or not Iraola will tweak issues and entrust a brand new attacking arrival like Romain Faivre, Ben Doak, Eli Junior Kroupi or Amine Adli with a beginning spot anytime quickly, nevertheless it’s seemingly that these modifications received’t come after a strong win in opposition to Spurs. One factor’s for positive, although: it is a crew that’s in transition.
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“They’ve had some large departures,” acknowledged ex-Premier League striker Gordon ‘Flash Watson to EPL Index. “They’ve performed the funding and really put collectively a very good crew…their recruitment has been completely good going again to the times of Richard Hughes, when he was working as their Technical Director.”
“It goes again to purchasing the correct gamers,” acknowledged Watson, who performed alongside the likes of Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall, and Hughes throughout his keep at Bournemouth within the 1999/00 season. “It goes again to purchasing the correct gamers, and it’s the rationale Brighton have performed so nicely, however this 12 months’s gonna be an actual take a look at, and there’s an enormous gap on the left aspect of Bournemouth’s protection. I feel there’s worse groups than Bournemouth, so I feel they’ll get away with a little bit little bit of a rebuild.”
Can Bournemouth lastly string collectively back-to-back wins? Keep tuned for what guarantees to be an enchanting encounter on the Vitality.
