Bournemouth

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Bournemouth earned four points from their first four Premier League games against Liverpool (W1 D1 L2), but have since earned just three from their past 11 (W1 D0 L10).

The Cherries also scored more than twice as many goals in the first four (seven) than they have against the Reds in the last 11 (three).

However, Bournemouth (unbeaten in 11) and Liverpool (unbeaten in 18) account for two of the three longest ongoing unbeaten runs in the Premier League - Arsenal's 13 without defeat being the other.

Since 29 November, no side has won more Premier League points than the Cherries (25 – W7 D4 L0).

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Liverpool (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are no new injury concerns in the squad. Luis Sinisterra could be back in contention, after recovering from a hamstring injury, but he needs to be "assessed again" and therefore it isn't certain he will be involved this weekend.

• The Cherries are looking to extend their 11-game unbeaten run in the Premier League but he anticipates the fixture will be "the biggest challenge of the season" as Liverpool are also looking to continue their 18-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.

• He added: "I think they have been the best team, not only in England but also in Europe this season. It is going to be very difficult for us, but it is a good challenge. I think we are in a good moment as we are also playing well. I don't know if we will have enough, but we will try."

• There were some learnings to take from the 3-0 loss at Anfield earlier this season, with Iraola reflecting: "Their offensive power is very big. We lost our heads for a few minutes and conceded three goals. It shows that you cannot lose any concentration or focus against Liverpool. They are scoring and creating so many chances, so at the other end of the pitch we have to be very good."

• Even though Bournemouth have only conceded seven goals at home this season, Iraola "really doesn't expect" to keep a clean sheet against Arne Slot's side. He added: "If we want to take a point, we will need goals and we will need to be clinical."

• The Cherries are still on the hunt for another striker, with Iraola stating: "We are trying, but we continue in the same place. We are really thin. We want to sign a player that will improve and help us. We trust the players we already have long-term, but it's true that we need help in the meantime."

• The club are happy with current strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal, so they are looking to bring in a striker on loan.

• He replied "I don't know" when asked if supporters can expect to see a new face coming in before the transfer deadline but added: "If the situation appears, we are all for it. If it doesn't appear, we will continue fighting and being competitive."

• After the loan departures of Philip Billing, Max Aarons and Mark Travers, the club aren't expecting any other players to leave on loan. Iraola joked: "Who knows, maybe we will have a crazy money offer for someone, like we have seen with other teams!"

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Full commentary of Bournemouth v Liverpool from 15:00 GMT on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live

Name this former Bournemouth manager from the following clues:

• I am a former England international.

• I won promotion to the Premier League in my only full season in charge of the Cherries.

• I am currently the manager of a Championship club.

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

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It is amazing how well Bournemouth are doing.

You look at their bench and they have got so many high numbers on the shirts because younger players are having to be brought into the frame.

The starting XI can still look very, very good, but an area where they have to really think about before the transfer window closes is that number-nine position. They are very light in players who play that nine in a more traditional way.

Yes, players like Dango Ouattara have done well and they still have attacking creativity, but at times teams do need a specialist.

Given all the work they have put in so far, they would be so disappointed if they run out of steam because they have left themselves light.

I am not saying they have to be desperate to bring someone in - and I do not think the board or Andoni Iraola will panic - but it feels like a great opportunity to be able to finish the season well. Being in Europe next season could almost change the future of the football club.

From my understanding, Bournemouth can compete on a financial and wages front with clubs in leagues around Europe and the world. Add in the fact they have one of the best young managers in the league and the team is competing to be in the top four, they could be Europe next season and they play high intensity, exciting football - the market is going to be open for them.

They will want to stay within their own budget, with regards to transfer fees and salaries, but Bournemouth are a lot more competitive than people realise. They have managed to find really good players along the way anyway and it is why they are in the position they are this season.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

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Former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington says Dango Ouatarra has done an "incredible job" as the Cherries' starting striker.

The 22-year-old scored a hat-trick against third-placed Nottingham Forest to help his side climb to seventh in the Premier League, just a point off the Champions League places.

"We were worrying about how Bournemouth are going to sustain themselves without a recognised number nine", Partington told the latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked podcast.

"Ouatarra has really shown everybody he is capable of playing at this level - and not only playing but being a positive force in a team we thought might struggle after Evanilson's injury and have to get a number nine.

"They have done the complete opposite, scoring almost double-figure goals in three games.

"Credit where credit's due. He's done an incredible job."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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"Huijsen seems to be the name on everybody's lips if you're a top football club in Europe at the minute."

The words of former Cherries defender Joe Partington on Dean Huijsen - the 20-year-old central defender who was signed for just an initial £12.8m from Juventus last summer and has been one of the Premier League's breakout stars this season.

As our Bournemouth expert Mark Mitchener put it on this page earlier, Huijsen is "linked with a different European giant every day".

"That's a huge compliment and huge confirmation that Bournemouth's recruitment team are doing an amazing job," Partington told BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked podcast.

"If his release clause doesn't come into play until the summer at least you know you've got four, five months left of him. If Bournemouth are in a position at the end of the season where they will play in Europe next year, then you would like to think he would want to stay unless a team came in and offered him a deal too good to turn down.

"He made the decision to come to Bournemouth as a 19-year-old and not wait for a bigger club even though people were saying very nice things about him so he wants to play. He's doing a very good job of it.

"I'd like to think the club can keep him but with some of the very best young players in the world it's very difficult to tell what will happen."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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If Bournemouth were somewhat flying under the radar as they picked off the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City during the autumn, their performances during the past fortnight have set off every early-warning system going.

Back-to back demolitions of Newcastle and Nottingham Forest - both labelled as title contenders - by a combined scoreline of 9-1 have put the Cherries front and centre among Premier League talking points.

First on Match Of The Day, first on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, spotlighted on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, and with dozens of articles and videos springing up to dissect their astonishing unbeaten run, Bournemouth are no longer a secret.

On the flip side, the increased spotlight on a club of Bournemouth's size means plenty of column inches predicting imminent break-up of the squad.

If the internet is to be believed, Andoni Iraola is favourite to take over at Tottenham, Milos Kerkez's friendship with fellow Hungary international Dominik Szoboszlai means the Cherries left-back is virtually signed and sealed as a Liverpool player already, while Dean Huijsen is linked with a different European giant nearly every day.

As ever, Cherries supporters should take such speculation with an enormous pinch of salt.

While the club may have to brace itself for a departure or two in the summer, the Dominic Solanke saga showed Bournemouth's firm determination to hold out for a sizeable fee rather than selling on the cheap.

Additionally, contingency planning will have replacements lined up - as evidenced by the signing of Evanilson less than a week after Solanke's sale.

For now, fans should recognise they are living through the best period in Bournemouth's history - and enjoy the ride.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Andoni Iraola's transformation of Bournemouth is a work of contrasts - the relaxed, calm approachable presence around the club's training ground turning into a fiery, intense personality in his technical areas that has already earned him a touchline ban this season.

It has resulted in Bournemouth adding Nottingham Forest to a list of victims that includes Arsenal and Manchester City at home, as well as Manchester United and Newcastle United away.

Iraola's meticulous training ground work marks him out as one of the league's outstanding young coaches, someone who has shown a liking for taking so-called underdogs into the arena where they trouble the big names.

He took Cypriot side AEK Larnaca into the Europa League group stage for only the second time, Spanish minnows Mirandes to safety from the lower reaches of the second division and the Copa del Rey semi-final, before establishing Rayo Vallecano in La Liga after promotion, beating Barcelona along the way.

Read more from Phil on Iraola

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The latest Cherries: Unpicked has landed and on this week's show, Jordan Clark and former defender Joe Partington take a look back at Bournemouth's impressive 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

They also discuss hat-trick hero Dango Ouattara and whether they can "dare to dream" of another three points when they face Premier League leaders Liverpool on Saturday.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Peter from Basingstoke asked: Bournemouth are not just playing winning football, they are playing exciting football. How highly do you rate Andoni Iraola and will he be attracting the attention of other clubs?

Phil answered: Afternoon, Peter. Very highly. And yes, Iraola will be attracting the attention of other clubs.

This does not mean I am suggesting he will leave. It would be more of a surprise if I said he wasn't attracting the attention of other clubs, given the way Bournemouth are playing.

I was at The Vitality Stadium to see them beat Nottingham Forest 5-0 on Saturday and it was one of the best team performances I have seen this season. They were thrilling to watch, fast, skilful and full of threat.

Bournemouth's current squad is a tribute to the recruitment team, including former sporting director Richard Hughes, who is now at Liverpool, and his long-time assistant Simon Francis, who has carried on the good work after taking over.

The atmosphere down there was fantastic and you can just feel the optimism as you walk around the club and the stadium.

Read more of Phil McNulty's Q&A here

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says Bournemouth are "fearless" and "they back themselves" every week to get a result regardless of the opposition.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "They are full of confidence and are flying.

"I never thought I would say this, but they are in with a chance of getting top four! It is a great, great story."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Jeff Hayward from the Back of the Net podcast says Bournemouth fans "have never had it so good" and are enjoying "the best season ever".

The Cherries are seventh in the Premier League table after accumulating 40 points from 21 games and are just one point behind Manchester City in fourth.

"This season, from the first game, has been gelling and it is just getting better and better," said Hayward on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "It is a joy to watch. It is thrilling."

But with success comes attention, and head coach Andoni Iraola will no doubt be in the conversation for the next big manager vacancy in the Premier League.

Hayward is realistic on the Spaniard's future but for now says Bournemouth "fits his DNA really well".

"He is super talented and is the best coach we've ever had, and I am including Eddie Howe in that," he added. "I don't think any Bournemouth fan would disagree with me on that.

"He probably will go on, at some point, to manage somewhere bigger but for as long as we have got him we are going to enjoy every moment of this team."

Take a look at both clips, watch the show on iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds.

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus are interested in Bournemouth's 18-year-old Spain Under-21 international defender Dean Huijsen. (Fichajes - in Spanish, external)

Newcastle are interested in the Cherries' Ukraine international defender Illia Zabarnyi, 22, but know a deal will not be possible until the summer. (i Paper, external)

Brighton and Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson, 20, is the top target of former Seagulls boss Graham Potter, who wants to bring the striker to West Ham, but Everton, Bournemouth and Arsenal are also in the running. (Talksport, external)

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Sam Davis
Fan writer

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Bournemouth extended their unbeaten run to 11 Premier League games (12 in all competitions) following a stunning 5-0 home victory over the usually solid Nottingham Forest at the weekend. Nine goals from two incredibly tricky fixtures for the Cherries.

Just how are they doing it?

Remarkably, the south coast side are in somewhat of an injury crisis at present, which notably includes both of their senior strikers - Evanilson and Enes Unal.

That has meant the Cherries have had to think on their feet in regards to who will lead their attack in the short term. Fortunately, an FA Cup encounter with West Brom provided the perfect opportunity to trial something, opting to give Dango Ouattara a chance at leading the line.

While he delivered with a couple of goals in a comfortable 5-1 victory in that game, fast forward to the past two impressive victories and it is still Ouattara impressively leading that line.

At the weekend, he helped himself to a first Premier League hat-trick, straight off the back of Justin Kluivert's three-goal return the week prior at Newcastle. It proves that whoever is asked to play in whichever position, Bournemouth's style will always provide chances, attacking flexibility and more importantly, plenty of goals.

It remains to be seen whether Bournemouth will opt to dip into the January transfer window for a striker, but either way, with Andoni Iraola and this current crop of players, the Cherries will always score goals.

Find more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, which the hosts won 5-0.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Wing: So many superlative words I want to say, but so few words could really describe what a Cherries fan is feeling right now. In a game that was billed as a very tight match of the best "underdogs" in the Premier League, the Cherries displayed the real gap on the pitch. This hopefully springs us to a tremendous result against Liverpool as well.

Alan: Brilliant team performance by Bournemouth - dominated in all areas of the park. Man of match was Ryan Christie, who was box-to-box, helping both the front line and defence, but everyone contributed.

Malcom: Following on from Newcastle last week I had no doubt that we could overturn Forest, but did not see the 5-0 coming. Another full team performance from 1 to 11. Once we turned it up in the second half, Forest were shell shocked and had no answer. Excellent performance all round.

Scott: Absolute dreamland to be a supporter of the Cherries right now. Incredible performance against a very good Forest side. We have never had it so good, this is the best side we've ever had and a manager that is top drawer. I don't want this season to end. Wow, just Wow!

Forest fans

Susie: Forest were awful, but I was half expecting an explosion soon - it's just gutting it was by that much and in this game! We have to dust ourselves off and move on. We've got some hard fixtures coming up but I have faith we'll be OK. Bournemouth were excellent, and we just had an off day. Still a very proud Forest fan for the season so far!

Darren: Not sure what was going on but we were never at the races. Even Murillo, Milenkovic and Sels were off it. This will stop the title race nonsense talk and allow us to get back on the horse and finish as high as we can. Poor performance but on we go!

Edward: Huge credit to Bournemouth. We've overperformed hugely this season. These days will happen. The players have looked tired since Liverpool. Squad depth partly explains what happened. A silver lining may be Mr M releasing the purse strings for a defensive midfielder and a wide forward/winger.

John: That was the worst performance I've seen since the Championship days - sluggish, lethargic, second to every ball. Hopefully this is just a blip.

John Acres
Final Score reporter at Vitality Stadium

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It's easy to forget that Bournemouth were on the verge of going out of business just 17 years ago.

They owed over £2m to the bank, they were in the bottom division, and they were given a 17 point deduction. Today they stand a genuine chance of earning the right to welcome the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, or Bayern in the Champions League next season.

The Cherries were exceptional against Nottingham Forest. Andoni Iraola has his side playing with a confidence and swagger not seen since their time under Eddie Howe.

They only have 12 fit regular first-team players, but in the likes of Justin Kluivert, Dango Outarra, and Antoine Semenyo, they have forwards in form. The team have scored 16 in their last four matches in all competitions.

If they can carry on that form against Liverpool at the Vitality next weekend, I think they could finish top five, and we all know that could mean Europe's top brass visiting Boscombe next season.

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures are now available to watch.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Wolves 0-1 Arsenal

• Man City 3-1 Chelsea

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Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was a great result. We knew we were facing a very good team and that they were also coming in a very good run but in this game I think to score first is key.

"In most of their last games they have been winning form the first half and then it becomes the game that they want. The goal from Justin in the beginning helped us and made the game look better for us."

On hat-trick hero Dango Outtara: "I think he has been very good in the four game she has played as a number nine. He has played well apart from the goals. He has been a threat in behind, even coming to behind he can link up play. It is good for him because we can use him in different positions and it's good for his minutes and for his chances to play."

On pushing for Europe: "I think we are not going to change. We are taking the games game by game. We have a more difficult one against Liverpool next week. We are in a good run while we're quite thing of numbers so we try and regroup a little bit and try and recover at least one more player. I will not change the approach we are taking."

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Bournemouth are unbeaten in each of their last 11 Premier League games (W7 D4) – extending their longest run without defeat in the competition.

Against Nottingham Forest, the Cherries recorded their biggest victory in the top-flight since April 2019 (5-0 vs Brighton).