With the Premier League likely to receive five spots in next season's Champions League, former Liverpool and England defender Stephen Warnock tells The Football News Show why this could represent the best chance for a generation for Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth to realise their unlikely European ambitions.
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Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Wolves (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On whether any injured players are ready to come back: "We still have today's training, I think we will recover Julio [Soler]. He arrived at night yesterday and he is an option."
He added: "Also, Hilly [James Hill] has been training with us this week and we will see if he makes the squad. If not, it is also good news because he will make the squad for the next games that we have. Next week we have three games. It's good that we slowly, slowly start recovering more players."
On facing Wolves: "It's a difficult game, I think they are playing very well. They've had a very difficult schedule. They have always been competitive and tomorrow I expect a difficult game. They have very good individuals, they have been very solid defensively and they are not conceding a lot. It will be demanding for us."
Iraola was asked to reflect on how good his side have been this season: "For me, you analyse or evaluate at the end of the season. We are doing well, it's true, this season we are playing well quite consistently but we will see where we finish at the end. It is good to be in a good moment, in a good position right now but they don't give you anything in March. It is at the end of the season when you can achieve or you can see how we have done. We will see where we are then, not now."
On his side potentially going to into the top four tomorrow, depending on other results: "For me, we are on 43 points. We have the chance to add one more point tomorrow or three more points. that's what we will try [to do] tomorrow and that's it."
Iraola added: "The position [we are in now] is nice, it's good to be there with big teams but we need many more points if we want to fight for something at the end of the season. We want to continue adding points and see where the table puts us at the end. We will not change our approach."
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Newcastle are interested in Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo. (Talksport), external
Andoni Iraola would be Tottenham's preferred candidate to replace Ange Postecoglou, should the Australian manager leave the club. (Talksport), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesBournemouth have won three of their past four Premier League games against Wolves, though all three have come away from home.
However, Wanderers are unbeaten in all four of their Premier League away games against the Cherries, with two draws and two wins - their most away games against an opponent without losing in the top flight.
Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesWith 13 games left of the Premier League season, Bournemouth have every right to feel delighted about the first two-thirds of the campaign.
Having never made it this far into a top-flight season with anything approaching a positive goal difference, the Cherries are already only five short of equalling last term's record points tally and the fans are dreaming about Europe - even if the club will not publicly engage in such talk.
What is more remarkable is the context in which this run of form has been achieved.
Hearing Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou's weekend gripes about "players out of position and kids on the bench", Cherries supporters could be forgiven for pointing to their past month spent without a fit right-back or central striker, and a host of untried development squad players filling out the substitutes' bench.
Yet, they still managed to beat Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Southampton by a combined total of 14 goals to two, only stumbling with a 2-0 defeat by champions-elect Liverpool.
The injury situation seems to be slightly easing, with Marcus Tavernier back for some important cameos off the bench (plus a start in the FA Cup), while Alex Scott and Luis Sinisterra - both sidelined since the win over Arsenal in mid-October - made comebacks as substitutes in Saturday's win at St Mary's.
Scott's return could be particularly welcome as Ryan Christie has been walking a disciplinary tightrope for two games since picking up his ninth yellow card of the season against Liverpool.
The 'cut-off' for suspensions for 10 cautions is not until after teams have completed 32 league games - mid-April - so it may be unrealistic to expect Christie's all-action midfield style not to earn him a yellow card before then. In which case, with Lewis Cook still deputising as a makeshift right-back, Scott could be the man to step in.
Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert, who both served one-match bans earlier in the season for accumulating five bookings, are now on six, as is Cook, with Dean Huijsen (now appearing almost daily in the BBC transfer gossip column) on five.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Cherries defender Joe Partington speaking about Ryan Christie on the latest Cherries: Unpicked podcast: "Every time Bournemouth win a game the manager is always asked questions about a certain player. Sometimes its [Justin] Kluivert because he scored a hat-trick, maybe its [Antoine] Semenyo because he scored a really important goal.
"But, Ryan Christie's consistency this season is incredible. His level is so so high - his ability to look exceptionally in control of what he's doing. I hope its not underwhelming to say he's outstandingly basic.
"His touch is always perfect, his pass is always the right weight at the right time at the right angle - he plays the pass to the right player in the right moment into the right space. He dribbles past people when he should, he finds space between players when he needs to. When the ball looks messy and other players would just clear it, he brings the ball down and finds a team-mate to let the team gain control of the game.
"He's a really, really important part of why Bournemouth are so successful at the moment.
"He's a player's player. He might not be the fans' favourite player but players will all tell you he's one of the best. They all have that respect for him and are so appreciative of his level."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
If you're not a Bournemouth fan, find your club's page here
Image source, Getty ImagesA topic of discussion on the latest Cherries: Unpicked episode is the possibility of Aaron Ramsdale returning to the club he played for between 2017 and 2020.
The England international was linked with a move back to the Vitality Stadium in the summer after his Arsenal exit but a move did not materialise and he ended up at Southampton.
Kepa Arrizabalaga instead arrived on loan from Chelsea and, while he has impressed for Andoni Iraola's side, it is unclear how likely he is to remain on the South Coast when his deal expires at the end of the season.
"He's an amazing goalkeeper," former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington said. "I know he's in a struggling team at the moment but he's a wonderful player.
"As a person by all accounts he is a positive influence on the changing room, people I know who know him say amazing things about him.
"He's not going to come into Bournemouth and make them worse but also they have a goalkeeper at the moment who is performing very well.
"It's difficult from Kepa's perspective as once upon a time he was the world's most expensive goalkeeper and through that tag you're expected to play at a certain level. He maybe wasn't able to do that at Chelsea but at Bournemouth he's doing a very good job.
"Is Aaron Ramsdale a Premier League player? Yes absolutely of course he is. He's a great goalkeeper, most clubs would want him. But, Bournemouth at the moment have another goalkeeper who's playing very well."
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Cherries defender Joe Partington believes Nottingham Forest will "slip away" from the top of the Premier League, potentially offering a route for Bournemouth to qualify for the Champions League.
Andoni Iraola's side sit fifth - four points behind Forest in third - with the Premier League's top five likely to reach Europe's top club competition due to the extended League Phase and England's coefficient ranking.
"I think the top four are strong still," Partington told the Cherries: Unpicked podcast. "They're full of amazing talent.
"But, the Bournemouth players are showing up at the moment and doing incredibly well.
"I still think it is unrealistic but I'm certainly not suggesting that it's not possible. It's happened before when teams who are not realistically top six clubs find their way into the Champions League. This looks like it has the characteristics of being one of those seasons for sure.
"I see a team on the attack. When you watch Bournemouth at Southampton the centre-backs are 10 yards into the opposition half. They have the ball camped in the opposition half. When they play against some of the best teams, the centre-backs are on the halfway line - not naively but because they are on the front foot and taking control of games.
"I feel like Nottingham Forest will slip away. There's been a couple of games where they've fallen short of the levels they've set.
"Forest are at their best when they're at the opposite of that and they're trying to counter-attack. I don't see that as being a sustainable way of winning games over a long period of time. When I watch Bournemouth I see they've got a little bit more than Forest."
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is top of Tottenham's list if they decide to replace Ange Postecoglou, who has been in charge since June 2023 but is under pressure following a poor run of results. (Talksport), external
Sam Davis
Fan writer
Image source, PA MediaAnother weekend ends victorious for Bournemouth, which now means the Cherries have only one defeat in their past 15 games. Very impressive indeed.
There are many factors enabling this run of form but, following the latest win, it feels as though the current midfield duo deserve some praise.
Tyler Adams and Ryan Christie were imperious again. They were first to everything against Southampton. Both were relentless throughout and Christie even managed to bag a glorious goal and assist too.
The pair are relatively new to being alongside one another in that midfield area. A host of injuries have meant Lewis Cook filling a full-back role, but even with his displacement, the midfield partnership has flourished.
Adams has struggled with injuries since joining the club. However, a proper run in the side is showing just why the club went after him. He has been a revelation.
As for Christie, he was brought to the club in the Championship under Scott Parker and played regularly as a right-winger. He was key to the promotion back to the top flight, but then once manager Gary O'Neil came in, he was left out of many starting XIs and sometimes omitted from matchday squads all together.
Andoni Iraola had other ideas, though, turning Christie into the complete central midfielder. He has been nothing short of spectacular there.
Will Cook go back into midfield once injuries have cleared somewhat? Will Alex Scott force a way in?
Regardless, it will give Iraola and the club some welcome headaches going forward.
Find more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external
Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen has a £50m release clause in his contract, which can be activated from this summer - with Liverpool among the clubs interested in the defender. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician
Bournemouth have undergone a transformation in front of goal this season and their finishing has gone from clumsy to clinical - with Andoni Iraola's side scoring 14 goals in their last five Premier League games.
In their first 16 games, up to and including their 1-1 draw with West Ham United on 16 December, their shot conversion rate was just 9%. Only Southampton, Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham United were more wasteful in front of goal during that period.
The Cherries had also scored nine goals fewer than expected given the chances they created, making them the worst finishers when taking shot quality into account. Southampton were the next biggest xG underperformers, scoring six goals fewer than their xG.
In their last nine games, from the 3-0 win at Manchester United on 22 December onwards, their shot conversion rate has shot up to 15%. Only Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle have been more clinical in that time.
The Cherries have also scored five goals more than expected, given the chances they have created. Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest have overperformed their xG more in that time.
Maybe it is down to a personnel or tactical change from manager Andoni Iraola, or maybe it is just luck balancing itself out after a tricky start to the season...
Chris Wise
Final Score reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesThere must be more than a few envious eyes at Southampton right now glancing along the coast at Bournemouth. After all, it was less than a decade ago when Saints were competing in European football. They're now hurtling back towards the Championship, and Bournemouth are quietly preparing themselves for the continent.
The Cherries' victory at St Mary's at the weekend was the first time they'd completed a league double over Southampton, and also provided us with the final piece of evidence that there's been a changing of the guard.
Bournemouth were just a level above Saints for large portions of the game. If they'd shown some ruthlessness, the margin of victory could have been far greater.
No-one at Bournemouth is going to openly say they're genuine European contenders, but they are. They've won 10 of their last 15 games in all competitions, are freely scoring on their travels, and are just a brilliantly coached side.
Bournemouth's consistency is everything Southampton crave right now.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Southampton and Bournemouth.
Here are some of your comments:
Southampton fans:
Freddie: It felt as if we've resolutely condemned ourselves to the Championship already. A distinct lack of quality, aside from Mateus Fernandes, makes me concerned we'll be in a League One relegation fight next season. Onwards and upwards!
Glenn: Ivan Juric used the Nathan Jones, Ruben Selles, Russell Martin tombola number picker rather than player picker. Did not play our best players in best positions! Defending abysmal and the match went pretty much as us Saints supporters predicted! The players must be pretty much devastated and depressed as I know I and many Saints fans are! Sports Republic is responsible with dire recruitment of managers and players!
James: In short, not clinical enough. I will say that the chances of Southampton staying up are slim at best. If Juric had been the manager from the start of the season, then he would've been able to form his own identity in regards to the team, then in terms of the season it might've been a different story and they could've had more of a chance of beating the drop.
Ryan: Another toothless performance. Professional display from Bournemouth but we didn't really give them too many problems to think about. Allowing the opposition to go 2-0 up early on never gives us the best platform to compete and our poor starts are just one of the things that need to be eradicated if we're to seriously bounce back next year at the first time of asking.
Bournemouth fans:
Mark: Wow, the Cherries dream of Europe continues. The spirit, the never say die attitude continues. The atmosphere was brilliant from the away fans - we all have the belief we will do this. It's no longer a dream, it's becoming a reality. Bring on European nights at the Vitality! Well done, Andoni, Bill and everyone connected to AFCB! What a time to be a Cherry.
Matt: A convincing victory over local rivals, and a welcome first double. Not too shabby for a side lacking any recognised striker. Players coming back from injury can only reinforce our European football credentials.
Simon: Brilliant to do the double over Saints for first time in our club's history. Christie was magnificent. It's great he scored one and got an assist too! Christie's shooting more recently but has been very unlucky with hitting the post. Cherries were clinical up top and did well to get a third when a short period of sloppy play in second half let an otherwise poor Saints back into the game. Important three points to keep the European football possibility alive!
Ben: The first half was all Bournemouth and we should have made even more of the chances we had. For 20 minutes in the second we seemed to take our foot off a bit and suddenly it was Southampton winning the second balls. When they scored it was a little nervy. But our third was well deserved and killed the game off - impact off the bench yet again. Being a Cherries fan at the moment is a bit of a dream.
Liverpool are bracing themselves for the potential departure of captain Virgil van Dijk in the summer and have added Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen to their shortlist of replacements. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Brighton and Chelsea.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Image source, Getty ImagesBournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after today's win: "I think it is a good win for us and it is always difficult to play away in the Premier League. We played very good in the first 45 minutes but it is true that when they scored there were some moments that were risky and we were suffering. But thankfully we got the third one which is good."
On Ryan Christie: "I am very happy for Ryan. He has played well almost every time and it is a good shot from the edge of the box and he scores. You can see the work he has put in there. It was lovely goal and he is in a very good moment also."
On the game: "We talked at half-time that we needed a third goal to finish this game. We had some good counters and through one of those we scored the third one and it was good."
On European football: "I don't care about the position right now. I continue with the same spirit. 43 points is a good amount but we need many more. We have to focus on the next games. Let's see where we are and later in the season we can look at the standings. It is early.
"We definitely deserve the results we are getting and this is not a given that you are going to perform the same way until the end. If we perform in the same way, we will be there and be close. But it is difficult to stay at this level until the end of the season."
Joe Nelson
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesWhen Bournemouth beat Southampton 3-1 at St Mary's on Saturday, the gulf in quality between the two sides was clear.
Dango Ouattara and Ryan Christie struck in the first half and despite Kamaldeen Sulemana getting one back late on, the Saints were hit by a Marcus Tavernier sucker-punch.
The Cherries are dreaming of European football. Southampton are staring at the Premier League trap door.
Put simply, Bournemouth were just more clinical on the day.
Ouattara's glancing header gave Aaron Ramsdale no chance and Christie's shot had the former Cherries keeper well beaten. Tavernier's late effort similarly gave Ramsdale no chance.
Sulemana's goal was a tidy finish but such shows of quality were few and far between for a Southampton side who lack confidence.
Paul Onuachu did well to assist Sulemana but other than that, he struggled to hold the ball up against Bournemouth's defenders.
Second-half substitute Cameron Archer offered more penetration in the latter stages but even then, when he had got beyond the Cherries backline, he was denied at close range by Kepa.
Southampton's lack of cutting edge was juxtaposed by the devastating finishing on display by their south coast counterparts on Saturday afternoon.
