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Is a recruit key to defensive consistency?published at 11:28 22 August
11:28 22 August
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Bournemouth will "continue to look weak" in defence this season if they do not sign another centre-back, says former defender Joe Partington.
The Cherries got their season underway with a 4-2 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield last Friday and now host Wolves on Saturday as they look for their first points of the campaign.
Speaking to BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked podcast, Partington said: "Bournemouth have signed a couple of wingers and it was really much needed.
"Even though the team played very well, and towards the end of the game [against Liverpool] they looked like they had the impetus to go and get something out of it, I just worry that in the latter stages of games, Bournemouth's starting XI is so good, can the substitutes come on and make an impact and contribute to the game as well as those other guys?
"I didn't feel like that on Friday but now with the addition of [Amine] Adli and Ben Gannon-Doak, we now have strength in numbers and I'm hoping they perform very well, but then I think defensively we will continue to look weak if we don't sign another centre-back.
"We spoke about it a lot last year and highlighted [Illia] Zabarnyi and [Dean] Huijsen and how good their partnership was, how that platform allowed Bournemouth to go on and be successful and ultimately have a record points total for the season. That feels like it has been decimated so much, so can Bournemouth now recreate that level of consistency at the back?
"As it stands, if that back four remains the same as the one on Friday, then I think they will struggle to do that."
Truffert 'looked at home' and Iraola has fresh 'ammunition'published at 07:28 22 August
07:28 22 August
Mark Mitchener BBC Sport Senior Journalist
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Pre-season is usually a time for optimism among football fans – hopes and dreams that are often sent crashing back down to earth by an unfavourable result on the opening day.
Not many fanbases would actually become more optimistic after losing their first game 4-2 – but Bournemouth's performance at Anfield on Friday showed that Andoni Iraola's side are still capable of going toe-to-toe with the best sides in the division, in what was (on paper at least) their most difficult game of the season.
Clearly both teams were still integrating new players, and Bournemouth might envy the transfer fees Liverpool were able to pay in order to do so. But new Cherries left-back Adrien Truffert immediately looked at home in an Iraola side, arguably outshining his predecessor Milos Kerkez, who had a difficult start to his Liverpool career – given the runaround by two-goal Antoine Semenyo, yellow-carded before half-time and substituted on the hour.
A new-look back four also featured Bafode Diakite, barely 48 hours after signing from Lille. The French centre-back would be forgiven for barely knowing his team-mates' names as he was thrown straight into the cauldron of Anfield, but he displayed plenty of energy and showed he likes a tackle. Time will allow the retooled defence, also including new goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, to gain a greater understanding.
Further forward, the Cherries were missing three key men in Justin Kluivert, Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie, while the absence of Luis Sinisterra (reportedly lining up a move abroad) and Brentford-bound Dango Ouattara left them short of cover in the wide areas.
Iraola prefers to have a group of wide players available so the starters can run themselves ragged before being replaced after the hour mark. The fact he only made one change before the dying minutes at Anfield reflected his relative lack of forward ammunition on the bench.
However, new signings Ben Gannon Doak (as he now prefers to be known) and Amine Adli should remedy that situation. Gannon Doak has pace to burn and vast potential, Adli already has a Bundesliga winner's medal, and the pair are ready to be unleashed when Wolves visit Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Adli scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in 42 games in 2023-24 as Leverkusen won the Bundesliga and German Cup double under former boss Xabi Alonso.
Those close to the winger say he is excited to play under manager Andoni Iraola at a club that he feels is growing in stature.
He believes Iraola's style of play will fit his skill set having been pitched the chance to play both number 10 and on the right-wing.
Upon joining the club, Adli said: "The people around give me a lot of confidence here and I'm very impressed with the facilities.
"The people at the club are full of love, so I'm very happy and proud to play for Bournemouth and hopefully achieve good things."
'Adli still has a few years until he peaks'published at 09:56 21 August
09:56 21 August
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German football expert Constantin Eckner says it was "best for everyone involved to make a deal" to allow new Bournemouth signing Amine Adli to leave Bayer Leverkusen.
The 25-year-old winger struggled for game time in recent seasons but Eckner believes he has a natural place to fill in Andoni Iraola' set-up.
"Adli never managed to establish himself as a clear starter at Leverkusen", he told BBC Radio Solent.
"He was always at the fringes - coming in as a super sub and the 12th or 13th man usually and having players like Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tella ahead of him.
"Before the championship winning season in 2023-24 he played many more games because Wirtz was injured.
"It is best for everyone involved to make a deal and for Adli to go somewhere else and try there to be a starter.
"When we look at Bournemouth's starting XI for their first Premier League match against Liverpool, David Brooks played off the left wing but from what I know he is more of a right winger. Then there is Luis Sinisterra who is injured so I think there is an opening for a left winger.
"Adli has played mostly on the left wing or inside as a left sided number 10 or eight as an attacking midfielder a little more centrally. Usually he comes through the left side one way or another and in Andoni Iraola's 4-1-4-1 system right now he would probably be the man on the left wing.
"I think it's a fair deal in terms of price. He is still a young player, not quite at his peak in terms of athleticism. He still has a few years until he peaks but he played 140 games for Leverkusen and was part of the championship winning squad so is not just a nobody from the bench."
'Adli's ambition is very much aligned with ours'published at 09:02 21 August
09:02 21 August
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Bournemouth have completed the signing of winger Amine Adli from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £25.1m.
The 25-year-old - who has 15 caps for Morocco - has signed a five-year deal.
In all, he played 143 times for Leverkusen, scoring 23 times.
The deal takes Bournemouth's spending to £346m since American billionaire Bill Foley bought the club just before the 2023 January window and Adli is the second winger bought in a week, following the arrival of Ben Gannon-Doak from Liverpool.
"I'm very proud first of all to play for a club like Bournemouth," Adli commented.
"I was looking at my next move and I felt like Bournemouth was the perfect place for me.
"The people around give me a lot of confidence here and I'm very impressed with the facilities. The people at the club are full of love, so I'm very happy and proud to play for Bournemouth and hopefully achieve good things."
Bournemouth's president of football operations, Tiago Pinto, said: "We're thrilled to bring a player of such calibre to AFC Bournemouth. Amine is a proven winner and someone that will be a real asset to our squad. He's entering the prime of his career and I'm really excited to bring him to the club.
"He's someone that has competed at the highest level and his ambition is very much aligned with ours. I'm looking forward to working together and seeing what we can achieve."
'Blistering pace' and 'direct' - what to expect from Doakpublished at 11:14 20 August
11:14 20 August
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Former midfielder Neil Maddison, who summarises for BBC Tees, says new arrival Ben Doak is a player who will get Bournemouth fans off their seats.
He told BBC Radio Solent: "You've got a winger that is direct, whoever he is playing against he is going to get at them and more than ever he will get past them and deliver balls into the box. He is very quick - blistering pace.
"He normally goes on the outside and I think at times in the Premier League you might get found out that way but for me, he is a player who doesn't care who he is playing against because he is going to get at you.
"I always thought that he wouldn't get into Liverpool's side because I would say technically he has still got a lot to learn in that department.
"In terms of his pace, his aggression - it's all there. It's just that technical ability where you get past the man and you're looking for a decent ball.
"He can be hit and miss at times but he just frightens defenders and therefore he pushes defences back and it allows that midfield to get the ball a little bit more.
"I guarantee you'll be off your seats when he's on the ball because he is just so direct and he loves getting into full-backs, taking them on, he loves creating opportunities and for us in the Championship he was at a different level altogether."
'Semenyo is remarkable'published at 12:39 19 August
12:39 19 August
Sam Davis Fan writer
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The Premier League is back and while many clubs up and down the country are excited to see their new stars, Bournemouth fans are just delighted they have seemingly managed to keep hold of one of their own.
After an impressive campaign last time out for the Cherries, Antoine Semenyo was a man hotly tipped to move on to "bigger" things, but the club secured a contract extension and after one single gameweek, it already feels like a master-stroke on Bournemouth's part.
Semenyo grabbed a brace at Anfield in what was a valiant display from the side, despite defeat. Equally, it was a mightily majestic performance from the winger.
He has been a hit on the south coast ever since he joined from Bristol City back in January 2023, but I don't think anyone quite saw his ceiling being quite as high as it currently seems.
He has often been utilised as a central striker both at his previous clubs and also for his Ghanaian national team, but it's as a winger that Antoine has really started to glow up the Premier League. It was current Cherries coach Andoni Iraola who started using Semenyo from out wide, and both his electric pace and relentless power has been a joy to watch from the offset.
He often creates and scores goals, and he turns full backs inside out and bullies them on a regular basis. So it certainly feels like if Semenyo can remain fit and consistent, then he could be the catalyst yet again for another remarkable Bournemouth season.
Doak showcased potential during loan spellpublished at 11:26 19 August
11:26 19 August
Noel Sliney BBC Sport journalist
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Ben Doak was regularly terrorising opposition full-backs in the Championship with his pace and direct style before a thigh injury ended his 2024-25 season prematurely in late January.
Doak, who made his senior Scotland debut last September, provided three goals and seven assists in 21 starts for Middlesbrough.
Among players to have featured in at least 20 Championship games last season, the 19-year-old ranked in the top six per 90 minutes for assists, chances created and touches in the opposition penalty area.
The 19-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the Cherries and said: "I'm buzzing to be here. I feel like it's the right time for me and it's a great opportunity to play regular football at the highest level. It feels like the perfect fit.
"The team play very nice football. It's fast and it really suits my game, so I felt like I couldn't say no to the chance to play here."
Tiago Pinto, the club's head of football operations, added: "Ben is an exciting young talent who has shown his quality at the highest level despite his age.
"He brings pace and energy that will fit our model well and we're thoroughly looking forward to helping him fulfil his potential at AFC Bournemouth.
'A lot of money for unproven player' or is Doak 'a gem'?published at 16:43 18 August
16:43 18 August
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We asked for your views on the expected arrival of winger Ben Doak from Liverpool and where you see him fitting in.
Here are some of your comments:
Paul: The Cherries are in desperate shortage of strikers so this must be a definite plus. Defence looking a bit shaky settling in but I feel sure they will get it together soon.
Dominik: A lot of money for an unproven player in the Premier League. Poor stats for Championship season. I think there are better options
Charles: Doak is clearly a huge talent and showed glimpses of real quality last season on loan at Middlesbrough. He is predominantly a right winger but could possibly operate on the left flank. There are a few worries about injury issues but hopefully they can be carefully managed at the club's new world class performance centre. I don't think he is an automatic starter but he will still get ample opportunity to impress. The cherries now need another high quality centre-half and a striker.
Paul: Paying far too much for a very untested player, who hardly lit the Championship up at all last year. This is silly business and smacks of other previous overspending we've done from Liverpool. Really can't make head nor tail of this. Especially when you'll see Hamed Traore and Philip Billing leave for buttons soon.
Mike: Happy with that. Stay injury free and he's a gem.
'If I hadn't worn a mask it would have been impossible to play'published at 11:35 18 August
11:35 18 August
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Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has spoken to BBC Radio Solent about his recovery from his fractured jaw and what it was like playing in a full and half mask.
Scott, who was caught by the elbow of Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings in May, went on to be an influential player for Englands Under-21s at the victorious European Championship.
"The pain was ridiculous," said Scott. "I tried my best to keep going in the Villa game and managed to get to half-time but I just couldn't breathe properly.
"It was the best thing to come off but I didn't know it was broken until the scans after the game.
"It was completely cracked, so a pretty bad break in the end, and I had surgery two days later.
"They put a disc in to keep it in place, so the week after it was massively swollen. That was probably the toughest part and what the lads were chuckling about the most.
"At that point I did think it was going to be tough for me to be in the Euros squad, or even play another game that season.
"It was brought up that previous players who had done it had worn a mask and that's when I wanted to get it done as quick as possible."
For the Euros, Scott wore a specialised mask that protected his jaw as it continued to heal - but it wasn't the most subtle.
"At first, it was the main joke of everything," Scott added. "England had another mask made for me and then after a few days they just got used to seeing it.
"I saw people bantering me about it online but it had to be done as I had to do it to play in the tournament.
"It was probably too early to play but I was pushing for it. If I hadn't worn a mask it would have been impossible to play.
"It was tough at first, especially the full mask that I wore for the last game of the season because I couldn't really see anything out of it and it was falling all over my face.
"The one England had done really helped, I think if I'd have had the full face one then I would have been terrible at the Euros!"
Scott says he has had another scan on his jaw since returning to Bournemouth for pre-season and "it's pretty much healed now".
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 11:31 17 August
11:31 17 August
Pundits Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's opening Premier League fixtures.
Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth - the fans' verdictpublished at 12:41 16 August
12:41 16 August
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Bournemouth.
Here are some of your comments:
Liverpool fans
Ken: Great win but, as is often the case, we made it difficult for ourselves. Ekitike, Salah, Gakpo and Wirtz were excellent - all our defenders had an off day, though. Quality saw us through, but not a top performance yet. Early days and what an exciting prospect for the new season. We badly miss Diogo Jota - may he and his brother rest in peace forever. YNWA.
Geoff: There is some 'bedding in' to be done, and the absence of Ryan Gravenberch was noticeable, but a good home win against a tenacious and well drilled Bournemouth side. Lots to look forward to in the season ahead.
Mark: First game of the season, three points. Team adapting to each other. No worries.
Ben: Yet again, this display showed two things - Liverpool's attacking prowess and their defensive frailties. Being caught on the break for both Bournemouth goals showed the need for a new (and faster) centre-back. Although having Isak would be nice, we don't want to keep relying on our attackers to bail us out every time (plus Ekitike, so far, seems to be showing that Isak may not be needed). If the game has been against the likes of Manchester City,Chelsea or Arsenal it would likely have been a different result. If we don't sign a decent centre-back before the transfer window closes then it will be much harder to defend our title.
Max: I've thought for ages that Chiesa didn't get enough game time, and he will be food for thought over the next few weeks for Slot. Apart from the defending, it was a great game - entertaining, emotional and gripping.
Steve: Disjointed, less energy and far too much exposure in defence. As a life-long supporter, I'm seeing performances that are too much like the barren years. We need urgency, control and that 'get it all together ' approach. Hope we have time.
Bournemouth fans
Kathryn: I was worried beforehand but I thought we played a really high-pressing game. Amazing goals from the wonderful Semenyo against the best team in the world?! Marred by racism which was very upsetting for him. Disgusting and I'm very sorry it happened. Cherries are definitely going to Europe!
Steve: I was there with my son. It felt cruel to lose it so late but we look like a team with the potential to develop and improve.
Paul: Looked at lot better than I thought they would with so many key players going. Unfortunately, defensive errors and deflections prove costly. Everyone had us down to be returned to the Championship but I think we have proved we are more likely to be nearer Champions League.
Lee: Made a good fist of it considering a number of players who would have likely started were out injured. We looked a threat going forward and caused Liverpool problems. Sadly, you can't win a game of football conceding four goals, but I'm very optimistic after seeing that display that the mighty Cherries will have another good season. Atmosphere in Anfield was electric - I was so pleased to have been there in person.
Charl: Excellent performance full of energy and desire to not be beaten. Every player helping each other to contain a formidable opponent. Tactically superb set-up. Clumsy defending cost us but that will come.
Charles: Good start for the Cherries, expected to lose but did enough to be respected. Small details and a bit more luck could have seen a positive result. Semenyo was immense. Hopefully a tighter midfield with Cook and Christie back will see the best of the team. Defence are working hard to gel. It will get better.
Despair for Cherries but Iraola can take encouragementpublished at 11:49 16 August
11:49 16 August
Phil McNulty Chief football writer
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Bournemouth were presented with the toughest possible start to their Premier League campaign as they faced Premier League champions Liverpool at their fortress.
And it came after a summer of upheaval, with the defence that performed so well last season ransacked - Dean Huijsen sold to Real Madrid, Illia Zabarnyi to Paris St-Germain and Milos Kerkez in opposition here at Anfield - raising £147m in the process.
For all that, this was an excellent performance from Bournemouth that left them so close to an outstanding point before they fell victim to a typical late Liverpool surge.
And at the heart of it all was the outstanding Antoine Semenyo, who told experienced referee Anthony Taylor about being racially abused by a member of the crowd in the first half and responded with a superb display and two fine goals.
Bournemouth showed the strength of character and confidence manager Andoni Iraola has instilled in his team and they refused to take a backward step, even pressing for a winner at one stage.
Iraola has replenished his side with left-back Adrien Truffert and central defender Bafode Diakite, signed from Lille for £35m. Talks are also under way to bring in talented Scotland forward Ben Doak from Liverpool.
This, on top of what Bournemouth delivered at Anfield, will give Iraola heart despite this late disappointment.
Did you know?
Antoine Semenyo has scored 50% of Bournemouth's Premier League goals at Anfield (three of six). Indeed, he was the first visiting player to score more than once at the ground in the league since Leandro Trossard scored a hat-trick for Brighton in October 2022.
Bournemouth have taken just one point from their nine Premier League games at Anfield (D1 L8), an average of 0.11 per game. Only at Manchester City do they have a poorer average on the road against a side they have visited five+ times in the competition (zero points in eight games).
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