Bournemouth

Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth's stunning start to the season will breed confidence that they can secure a first-ever away win against a Manchester City side yet to hit top form. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes ahead of Sunday's clash.

Cherries seeking further success against Man City

Bournemouth had failed to register a single victory in any of their previous 21 matches against Manchester City before recording a famous 2-1 win at the Vitality Stadium last December.

Now sitting in the lofty heights of second, and on an eight-game unbeaten run that dates back to the opening weekend of the season, Andoni Iraola's side have arguably their best-ever chance of picking-up a maiden victory away at City.

In top-flight history, only Manchester United (16 wins from 16 versus Luton) and City themselves (nine from nine against Swansea) have a better 100% home win rate against an opponent than the eight wins from eight City have enjoyed against Bournemouth.

The Cherries' superb start to the season of 18 points from nine games is their best-ever in the top flight, surpassing the 17 they won under Eddie Howe in 2018-19.

It is remarkable to think that Iraola failed to win any of his first nine league games in charge of Bournemouth and his job was called into question. He has since led the club to record points tallies in both his seasons in charge and is firmly on course to do the same again, with a first-ever European qualification a tantalising prospect.

Much has rightly been made of their incredible recruitment team and it looks like they have struck gold again with Eli Junior Kroupi. The 19 year-old Frenchman is aiming to become only the fourth teenager to score in four or more consecutive Premier League games after Robbie Fowler, Nicolas Anelka and Francis Jeffers.

City looking to get more players scoring

City's defeat to Bournemouth last season not only ended their 32-match unbeaten top-flight run, but was the first of a four-match losing streak in the league from which the then-champions never really recovered.

After a shaky start to this campaign, Pep Guardiola's side had strung together a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions despite being a long way from their best. However, Aston Villa were quick to expose some familiar failings as they recorded a 1-0 win last Sunday.

That defeat marked the first time since 2013-14 that City have lost three of their opening nine games to a campaign. However, City fans can at least take solace from the fact they actually went on to win the league that season.

Questions remain over who is going to step up and score if Erling Haaland fails to find the target. His run of scoring in 12 games for club and country was halted by the Villans with his goal-shy team-mates again failing to find the net. Their next top scorer in the league is own goals with two, with only Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United having had fewer goalscorers than City's five.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester City at Etihad stadium (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Iraola confirmed they are "in a good spot injury-wise" with forward Evanilson potentially being back in contention having "been training most of the week as normal with the rest of the team".

• He added: "Difficult for me to make decisions because I have to leave some players out of the squad. But it is good and a lovely place to be in that sense. We can approach the game in different ways."

• On how he can keep players happy: "To keep everyone happy is impossible. Everyone has to complain and natural it is like this and should be like this. Have to accept these things. Have to put the team first. What gives us the best chance to get something from the game, not just starting XI, but also from the bench."

• Iraola revealed he had lunch and chatted "about lots of different things" with owner Bill Foley this week, but they did not have a meeting about his contract and added: "We talk every day. We know each other, we will have time to talk [about contract] whenever we decide."

• On their start to the season and eight-game unbeaten run: "We are being competitive. We are not just winning easy games. All games we have played have been quite a level. We are being effective, efficient. Now, the challenge is bigger [against City], facing one of most difficult games you can in world football. We have to raise our level to have chance to take anything."

• The Cherries boss said he does not "care" about Erling Haaland as he only wants "to win the game", adding: "It is not about Haaland not scoring. If he scores two and we score three then I take it. He is their main goalscorer and in great form. It will be very difficult to stop him because he is scoring most games but a challenge we have to accept as defenders, as a group collectively."

• On if this match is a real test of where they are: "No, I want City to win every game, Liverpool to win every game, Arsenal to win every game. They are not our rivals. When they face other teams, I don't want them to lose any points. I want them to win every game because at end of the season we know we won't be there with those teams, we will be in our own fight."

Catch up on all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

This - it seems - is the season of the set piece.

The Premier League debates are more about dead balls than ever before, with some sides enjoying immense success from corner kicks, throw ins or well-worked free-kicks.

What fine timing then for BBC Sport to launch a column with former manager Tony Pulis, a man who seemed to finely extract the fine margins from the game.

You can take in Tony's column on set pieces here

Chelsea are planning to replace manager Enzo Maresca with Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer news and rumours? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

In any walk of life, it never hurts to put on a good show when the big boss is in town.

Bournemouth have made a habit of winning when owner Bill Foley has flown in from America, ever since his first visit three years ago.

On 8 October 2022, Foley was in the stands as prospective new owner as the Cherries came from behind to beat Leicester 2-1, two months before his takeover was approved.

Fast-forward three years, and Foley was at Vitality Stadium on Sunday as Bournemouth saw off Nottingham Forest to move up to second in the Premier League table.

Naturally, supporters have been awaiting any news of an extended contract for head coach Andoni Iraola, a topic reportedly high on Foley's agenda for this visit.

But the Spaniard, whose current deal runs out at the end of this season, has politely batted back continual questions about his contract status, preferring to focus on the achievements of his players.

He even pointed out that on previous occasions in Spain, he has waited until after the end of the season to re-sign, though that will do nothing to reassure some fans who fear losing their prize asset.

With Iraola's Cherries flying at an unprecedented height in the Premier League, Wednesday evening is the turn of Bournemouth's women to go under the spotlight as they take on Oxford United at Vitality Stadium in the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division.

Unbeaten in league matches for more than two full seasons, the Cherries have taken to the third tier of the women's pyramid like a duck to water, winning five and drawing two of their first seven games.

On Sunday, while the men were beating Forest, the women were demolishing seventh-tier side Millbrook 11-0 in the first round of the FA Cup.

While Oxford will present a sterner test, more than 5,000 tickets have been sold as Helen Bleazard's side look to continue to (as owner Foley's motto would say), "always advance, never retreat".

On Monday, we took a look into Bournemouth's best start to a Premier League season and what this could mean for the rest of the campaign.

While history could not give us a clear answer as to where the Cherries might finish this term, we asked you for your predictions on how far up (or down) the table Andoni Iraola's side might end up.

The results as of 16:30 GMT on Tuesday showed there is plenty of positivity and optimism among supporters, with 34% eyeing a Europa League adventure, 15% thinking one better with a top-four spot and nearly a fifth (18%) going even further and suggesting becoming Premier League champions is a possibility.

A fair amount of fans tempered their expectations, with 32% feeling a top-half finish is most likely, however, so few expect anything less than that that a result of 0% registered for both a bottom-half finish and relegation.

You can add your choice here

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth carry on charging up the Premier League table and despite the talk around the summer's outgoings, it's the depth within the squad that's now starting to catch the eye.

Plenty has been said about Bournemouth's departures, having lost four of their main back five in the summer. The one man who stayed at the club was unsurprisingly club captain and stalwart Adam Smith, but he himself has been sidelined through injury since the end of August.

This particular quandary has meant the Cherries have utilised many different players in the right-back position, and it's a battle that many are relishing.

When Smith was out injured last campaign, it was midfield maestro Lewis Cook who stepped into the role in impressive fashion. However, Cook has also been sidelined this time around, so it has given opportunities for many less-utilised players within the squad to fight it out.

With Max Aarons out on loan at Rangers, it was deemed that Mexico international Julian Araujo would take the spot. Sadly for Julian, it hasn't been plain sailing so in stepped the normally natural centre-back James Hill, who took it upon himself to put in some assured performances within that role.

The club still decided to add reinforcements at full-back and it was the turn of Alex Jimenez to take on responsibility. He has taken to the side (and league) with ease, with many Cherries fans seeing him as potentially the long-term Smith replacement.

Whatever your preference, Bournemouth are showing they have options, flexibility and versatility all over the pitch.

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says "it will be so difficult" for Bournemouth to keep hold of Andoni Iraola as he continues to prove his managerial capabilities.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "He is in his last year of his contract and Bournemouth want to hang on to him, but his stock is growing so much so it will be really difficult to hang on to him.

"With respect, he will be ambitious, so when bigger opportunities come along he will have to think about when the right time is to move."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

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Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth forward Enes Unal, who is making strides in his recovery from a second anterior cruciate ligament injury, says the timing of his setback was a "disaster".

Unal suffered the injury in January after fellow striker Evanilson had sustained a broken foot.

"It was the day after I heard the news about Evan so it was sad, it was my moment to step up and help the team and carry that weight. It was a disaster I would say and it was the second time it happened to me," Unal told BBC Radio Solent.

"It was not easy emotionally, you start questioning a lot of things but I started working on things also, mentally, keeping grateful for what I have. I have a beautiful family and I've achieved great things in my career. I've played 10 years without any serious injuries and missed almost no games and hopefully this is the last and I've just got to get over these things."

The 28-year-old played 45 minutes for the club's development squad last week and said he has "no limitations" as he looks ahead to his first-team return.

"It feels great, especially emotionally," he said. "It's been nine or 10 months since I played a football game in any kind of level. So it just feels good, physically and emotionally.

"It's been challenging, anybody who's had knee issues or knee injuries would know that it's not the easiest thing and in my case it's been repetitive, a second ACL to the same knee. You can see the scars already. With these kind of injuries you never know the timeline or what's going to happen. I wasn't expecting to play at this moment because I had some complications but this is how it works.

"I kept believing and working and the people around the club were supporting me so I'm really happy. After all of these things happened I am living more day-by-day, but I don't have any limitations.

"So I will say after this moment, anything can happen and if the body feels good and the knee is good and decisions are made in that order, it could be sooner or later."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Is it possible for a club like Bournemouth to increase their profit enough to still comply with sustainability rules, whilst also allowing them to challenge for the top places in the Premier League?

That was the question put to Rory Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"I don't know if is possible," said Smith. "Not just because of financial fair play but because of the eternal hierarchy of football.

"Liverpool and Manchester United have been the three biggest clubs in England for about a century. It changes really slowly.

"The way Bournemouth and the likes of Brighton try it is by having their books in order then the sale of homegrown players isn't needed for PSR.

"They buy low and sell high because that way they can re-invest five times that amount in their squad. That is what has enabled Bournemouth to grow.

"It had a tiny infrastructure and it isn't a particularly large town but because they trade so well they have been able to grow and become much stronger.

"But I think that only takes you so far because there is a ceiling."

Listen to Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

When Bournemouth decided to sell a number of their standout players for big fees in the summer - including three defenders Ilya Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez - many were concerned with how they would cope.

The Cherries were riding high having just secured their best Premier League points tally and joint-best position, so how could they keep up that level with so much upheaval to the team?

And yet, that is exactly what they have done.

New full-backs Adrien Truffert and Alex Jimenez have slotted in seamlessly, while 19-year-old forward Eli Junior Kroupi - a January transfer window purchase - is looking like another hidden gem unearthed as he steps up in the absences of Evanilson and Enes Unal.

Andoni Iraola has continued to bring his exciting and daring style of play, all of which has led Bournemouth to their best ever start to a Premier League season.

A 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the weekend has taken the south coast club up to second in the table after nine games, with their 18 points the most they have had at this stage of a top-flight season.

Whether this translates to even greater success this campaign is not clear-cut.

Their second-best start of 17 points after nine games in 2018-19 could not be sustained and they ultimately finished 14th that season.

In contrast, their joint-lowest tally of 12 points after nine games in the Premier League last term led to their highest number of points by the end of the campaign - 56.

But that same 12-point start in 2019-20 ended in an 18th-place finish and relegation.

While fans will not be getting ahead of themselves at such an early stage of the season, things feel different for this now-established Bournemouth side and there is an opportunity for Iraola and his squad to see how far they can push.

But where do you think the Cherries can finish this campaign? A dream run to European places or could a bottom-half finish still be on the cards?

Make your choice here

Image source, Opta

It may only be October, but is it already a one-horse Premier League title race?

Arsenal's impressive start to the season - along with their regular Premier League title rivals stumbling - has left Mikel Arteta's side with a 67.34% chance of winning the trophy this season, according to the latest predictions from Opta's Supercomputer.

The Gunners, who have scored the second-most goals and conceded the fewest, have looked in imperious form as they bid to win a first Premier League title since 2004.

Manchester City are their nearest predicted challenger at 12.43%, despite sitting fifth in the table and six points off Arsenal at the top.

Following their 3-2 defeat by Brentford on Saturday - their fourth successive loss in the league - reigning champions Liverpool, who currently sit seventh, have been given the third-best chance of keeping hold of their crown at 11.04%.

They may be second in the table, but the Gunners' nearest challengers Bournemouth have still only been given a 1.47% chance of lifting the Premier League trophy.

A top-four finish and guaranteed Champions League football, however, is rated as a 22.67% chance for the Cherries.

They may be their closest rivals geographically and be third in the league, but Opta does not have Tottenham running Arteta's side all that close for the top-flight crown, with just an eighth-best 1.43% chance.

And what of surprise candidates Sunderland?

They are fourth in the table following their 93rd-minute winner against Chelsea on Saturday, but thoughts of a dream run to the title for fans should be tempered according to the supercomputer.

The promoted side have been given a 0% chance of lifting the trophy and also just a 0.91% chance of staying in the top four. However, the Black Cats' chance of relegation now stand at less than 10% (9.52%).

Image source, Opta

Image source, Getty Images

Jeff Hayward, from the Back of the Net podcast, says Bournemouth fans are "loving every minute" of an "astonishing start to the season".

The Cherries, who beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 on Sunday, are second in the Premier League with 18 points from nine matches.

Hayward told BBC Radio 5 Live that manager Andoni Iraola is a huge contributor to Bournemouth's success and he also credits the backroom staff.

"We've got a great recruitment team," said Hayward. "We're well financed, we're well run and it's showing.

"A lot is obviously said about Iraola and he's a huge huge part of what we're achieving on the south coast, but there's also credit to the club and the team."

On 19-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi, who scored his fourth goal in three appearances from 30 yards out against Forest, Hayward added: "What a talent he is.

"We've had a lot of media coverage about Antoine Semenyo, but from the top to the bottom, everybody is pulling in the same direction.

"Every player pulls their weight, and you can see that in someone like Marcus Tavernier.

"This is a great start but we're looking forward to what the rest of the season holds."

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Steve: We absolutely, utterly deserve to be second. We are excellent, exciting and also very strong throughout the whole team.

Stewart: It's quite simple, really - the performance has always been very good. Keep this team together until the end of the season, and that includes the coach, and we will play in Europe.

Andrew: We are truly living in a parallel universe - from minus 17 points to second place in the Premier League. This Iraola team really doesn't know its place.

Nottingham Forest fans

Terry: This just goes to show that you can't buy a good team unless you know what you're doing. Forest are a Championship team, not Premier League, and will be relegated no matter how much they spend or how many managers they have.

Steve B: It was always going to be tough after the high of Porto. We were dire on set pieces and lacked fight, especially in the first half. However, we have 29 games left, 87 points up for grabs. Confident that Dyche will get us better organised and the results will come.

Neil: Lacked any urgency, even on rare attacking positions and always chose the wrong option. Slow sideways and backwards passes all game. No runners into space and lost every 50/50 challenge. Didn't look like they wanted to win. We are in big, big trouble.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Bournemouth could "throw a few spanners into the works" this season after a strong start.

The Cherries are second in the Premier League after beating Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

"I like their level of consistency and every year we see top players getting ripped out of their team, yet they never miss a beat," said Reo-Coker on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "That shows to me that they have a great foundation of a football club.

"Some of the players who have been there a while like James Tavernier and Antoine Semenyo are also really underrated.

"I would certainly keep a eye on them this season because the one advantage that they have is that they don't have European competition. That makes it easier for them to focus on the Premier League.

"An ambition for them this year should also be to get a good cup run, or even win the FA Cup, and throw a few spanners into the works in the league."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Pundits Danny Murphy and Theo Walcott join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City

• Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

• Wolves 2-3 Burnley

• Bournemouth 2-0 Nottingham Forest

• Everton 0-3 Tottenham

Bournemouth rejected bids of £50m from Tottenham and Manchester United for 25-year-old Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo in the summer. (Telegraph), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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