Bournemouth

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A VAR related question was put to chief football writer Phil McNulty on Monday's Q&A.

@nubiblue on 'X' asked: Is the new improved VAR working? To me it continues to favour certain clubs.

Phil answered: First of all, I don't believe VAR favours certain clubs and quite honestly, I've not noticed too much difference or huge improvement.

Maybe a little less interference but I confess I lost a lot of faith in VAR after initially being a strong advocate.

I would be happy with semi-automated offside and line technology.

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Leicester and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Leicester fans

Nigel: Great win. Faes was outstanding. A positive result which hopefully the team can now build on and climb the table. Well done the whole team and Stevie Cooper.

Vin: Excellent first half and deserved lead for Leicester. Baffling second-half display and were fortunate Bournemouth didn't get back into it. Not enough closing down and tackles put in and playing out from the back encouraged Bournemouth to press. Must have a full 99-minute display, Mr Cooper.

Pravin: A win is a win for the Foxes. Rode our luck second half but three points and a clean sheet is a plus. It will be a game to build, hopefully. Cooper needs to get a first XI in his mind to start every game.

Trev: OK, a win - but nowhere near good enough. Like someone said last week, Cooper was a bad decision. The sooner he is replaced the better chance we have of staying up. Leave it much longer and it will be too late.

Bournemouth fans

Steve: Weak up front again - not taking chances when on top. It is frustrating because they do play with some style.

Jon: Evanilson isn't Solanke. We need the players to realise that and start playing to his feet rather than smash it up there and lose the ball because he hasn't got the physicality of Dom. When they realise that we will create more chances and might even score.

Chris: Appreciate that the forwards we have could be great once they have settled in, but we could have done with a recognised striker in there and now to replace Solanke. But, in Iranoi we trust. Still a long way to go.

Richard: Toothless without a goalscorer. Long season ahead, methinks.

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

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

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 3-2 Fulham

• Everton 0-0 Newcastle

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Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It's difficult to explain, you need to score. We had a disallowed goal, hit the post, the crossbar, we had enough chances to win the game.

"We played quite a level first half. In the second half we were pushing them a lot, put pressure on them. We played in their half. We had a lot of crosses but their keeper made some very good saves. We have to be more ruthless."

On Leicester's goal: "We should defend better but they have quality players. This can happen. We have to give merit to their offensive side but on the other side we are missing very clear chances."

"Ryan Christie drew an amazing save from the keeper. There are chances that you cannot miss altogether. We have to be more clinical and it is hurting us. All the games apart from Liverpool we are creating more chances but we are not getting the points."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Boss Andoni Iraola was right to bemoan Bournemouth's lack of cutting edge.

It is just eight goals in seven Premier League games for the Cherries this season, three of them coming in the first half against Southampton on Monday.

They created enough to take at least a point from Leicester and should have made their second-half dominance count.

Lewis Cook's disallowed free kick, with Evanilson offside, Ryan Christie being denied by Mads Hermansen, and Dango Ouattara and Illia Zabarnyi hitting the woodwork - there were enough chances.

It was clear they are missing Dominic Solanke after his £65m summer move to Tottenham and replacement Evanilson is yet to get to grips with the Premier League.

That should happen in time but the Cherries need to find a degree of ruthlessness more consistently.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

What did you make of Leicester’s display?, external

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

It has been a hectic start to the Premier League season with some clubs making a fast start while others are yet to get going.

But whose boots are made for walking the most so far?

Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa has walked the most after six games, just 0.1 km more than Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

Interestingly, Haaland and Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo walk a lot despite being forwards.

Maybe the reason why Haaland has been able to establish himself as one of the fastest players and why Semenyo has made so many sprints is that they conserve their energy for the biggest moments where they can make the most impact.

Meanwhile, it is not just distance walked that we have tracked.

Wolves’ Matheus Cunha has spent more of his time on the pitch walking than any other player in the Premier League so far.

It is also interesting that both of Tottenham’s centre-backs spend so much of their time walking, given Spurs' high possession, high pressing, style of play.

This might mean Cristiano Romero and Micky van de Ven can conserve energy for when things get a bit chaotic (or they fancy a marauding run)?

This could especially be true for van de Ven who has been the fastest player in the competition so far.

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Crystal Palace v Liverpool - 12:30

• Arsenal v Southampton

• Brentford v Wolves

• Leicester v Bournemouth

• Man City v Fulham (listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• West Ham v Ipswich

• Everton v Newcastle - 17:30 (listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week seven, he takes on Will Champion and Jonny Buckland from Coldplay, whose latest album, Moon Music, came out on Friday.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Bournemouth are a good team, and they are showing it. I watched them against Liverpool a couple of weeks ago and, although they ended up being beaten 3-0, they carried a threat and have got a goal or two in them.

Evanilson is off the mark now too, after scoring against Southampton, and Antoine Semenyo is important for the Cherries too. I'm convinced they will do enough here to pinch a win.

Leicester boss Steve Cooper is coming under a bit of pressure, but that is more because of his history at their rivals Nottingham Forest. Still, he needs a win... but I can't see him getting one this weekend.

Will and Jonny's prediction: 1-1

Read the rest of their predictions, and have your own say here

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

There can often be a lot of focus on distances covered and sprints made by teams, but how much of a difference does it really make to their success?

When it comes to distance covered by teams it is the 'battle of the B's' with Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford having covered the most ground in the Premier League so far this season.

At the other end of the scale, bottom side Wolves have run the least so far - 5km fewer than any other side.

Initially, I thought this could be due to how difficult their start has been (i.e. sitting deep and not rushing out against top opponents), but they actually rank mid-table in pressing stats (with no players missing via red cards either).

But, it is worth noting that running a lot does not necessarily equal success.

Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Chelsea and Aston Villa have also been the 'laziest' teams so far yet have started the season well.

It is a similar story when it comes to sprints too - some good teams sprint a lot, some good teams sprint little.

Tottenham have made the most sprints in the Premier League this campaign, followed by fellow high-pressers Liverpool and Bournemouth.

But defending champions Manchester City have made the least – 60 fewer than any other team – and yet they have been pretty good so far too.

Looking at which teams have made the most sprints – Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea – and which the fewest – City, Arsenal, Villa – it suggests that playing style plays a part in how much a team sprints as well as just work rate.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Leicester City (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Tyler Adams is still unavailable but he is "almost there" and will be "fully training" with the squad over the international break. The rest of his players are available for the trip to King Power Stadium.

• Iraola does not intend on turning Marcus Tavernier into a number 10: "He can do a lot of things so I'm not going to limit him to one position. He has the offensive quality and the defensive work rate to play in different positions. It is great for him because he will have a better chance of getting minutes than players that are more specific."

• Antoine Semenyo has contributed three goals and one assist in six Premier League appearances so far this season but Iraola asked for "more consistency" from the winger: "He is doing well. He is scoring goals and being a threat, but he has to continue."

• He said Evanilson feels "relieved" after scoring his first goal for the club last time out against Southampton: "He is very aware he is very important for us. He was playing well but, especially after the penalty he missed, he felt like he didn't want to let down his team-mates. You could feel that when he scored."

• Iraola refused to "evaluate" his new striker, who signed from Porto this summer in a club-record deal, against former Cherries striker Dominic Solanke, who left the club this summer to complete a move to Tottenham.

• He is also anticipating a "difficult" game against Leicester City, who are winless in the Premier League this season: "It will be even more difficult because we are playing away from home. In all of their games, they have been there until the end - fighting - so I think we have to be better if we want to win there."

• He added his defenders "will be ready for the challenge" posed by 37-year-old striker Jamie Vardy: "For his age, he is a fast forward. He attacks the spaces very well. It is uncomfortable for the centre-backs because you think he is offside, but he isn't. He also uses his body well and his timing is good."

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

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Leicester manager Steve Cooper has never beaten Bournemouth in five attempts in all competitions.

It is the joint-most he has ever faced an opponent as a manager without ever winning (also five against Manchester United).

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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Bournemouth’s stadium announcer Mike Botto found some unlikely national attention on social media after Monday’s 3-1 win over Southampton.

With the game in stoppage time and the Cherries strolling to victory, Botto’s announcement that the 11.15pm train back to Southampton had been cancelled, had away fans heading for the exit gates (if they weren’t already) and provoked one of the biggest cheers of the night, later circulated on video clips.

But on the pitch, Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth were the ones keeping their season on track, setting a fast pace along the rails like a slick TGV, while Russell Martin’s Saints remained frustratingly stopped at a red signal, awaiting their first win since returning to the Premier League.

Martin’s style of play, painstakingly playing the ball out from the back, seemed to play into Bournemouth’s hands as Iraola’s high-energy, high-pressing Cherries conjured a 3-0 lead by half-time.

Indeed, Martin’s managerial record against Bournemouth (taking in matches in charge of Milton Keynes, Swansea and Southampton) now reads: played four, lost three, drawn one, goals scored four, goals conceded 15.

As well as a comfortable win, Cherries supporters were also able to watch record signing Evanilson open his account for his new club, volleying in the opener after quick thinking and a delicate chip by Marcus Tavernier left the visiting defence flat-footed. The Brazilian striker was also involved in the five-player move that led to Antoine Semenyo’s third.

Looking at the table, Bournemouth in 11th place have so far lost to Liverpool (first) and Chelsea (fourth), drawn with Newcastle (fifth) and Nottingham Forest (10th), and beaten Everton (16th) and Southampton (19th).

And they will be hoping, trains permitting, it will be full steam ahead once more at Leicester (17th) on Saturday.

Sam Davis
Fan writer

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Bournemouth's relationship with Southampton is strange.

With the Saints' traditionally having a rivalry with Portsmouth, any kind of irritation with the Cherries has been minimal over the years.

They will often be quick to reference the fact they "saved" our club by putting money in buckets back in the 90s when the Dorset side was on its knees, plus, whisper it, some of them even used to cheer a Bournemouth win when the half-time scores were being read out at the Dell.

Being in separate divisions for most of our lifetimes is another reason why our Hampshire friends find it very difficult to even call the fixture a "derby". However, there is a growing sentiment to the west of the New Forest that the fixture is gaining traction from increased amount of needle - not least because we have now played each other 17 times in the past 14 years.

If you go back that many games with their Portsmouth rivalry, you would be in 1974 - so the question stands... should Bournemouth be taken more seriously by St Mary's match-goers?

Invariably, most of them will say no but, as the trajectory of both clubs changes, there is certainly more relevance to the fixture, especially given both often find themselves in the same league.

Perhaps Saints do not want the indignity of it being referred to as a rivalry, indeed for them, it is probably convenient that it is not one. Ultimately though, whatever its status, Bournemouth fans only care about results on the pitch, and after demolishing them on Monday, there is a definite feeling the tide is turning.

Either way, with Bournemouth up to 11th and Southampton deep in the relegation zone, Cherries fans can happily park the constant prodding of our "rivals" for another few months.

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

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Ben Phillips, from Back of the Net Bournemouth podcast, says he is "happy with the slow improvements" the team are making in the Premier League and a top half finish should be the aim for Andoni Iraola's side.

The Cherries, who finished 12th last season with a record-total of 48 points, registered their second win of this term convincingly against Southampton on Monday.

"I did expect the result because we have got the measure of Martin's teams," said Phillips on BBC Radio 5 Live. "Teams that play out from the back suit us.

"To build on where we were last season, so maybe 10th and 50 plus points, should be the aim for this season now. The quality of the Premier League is better this year so to break into Europe would be too much of a feat. I am just happy with slow improvements.

"You can tell we are going in the right direction on and off the pitch."

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We asked for your thoughts after Bournemouth's impressive 3-1 victory over Southampton on Monday.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: For 30 minutes we blew Southampton away and, for once, scored the goals our play deserved. Semenyo got the deserved headlines while Christie and Cook controlled the middle as they often do. Southampton were never going to be so poor second half and at times threatened to make a game of it - but we still could have added more.

Simon: A great night to be a Cherries supporter. Clinical finishing for a change while dominating the game at the same time. Good to see Evanilson score his first goal for the club after his penalty miss against Chelsea. A solid start to the season playing attractive and exciting football.

Jon: We completely controlled the game. Great to see Evanilson notch his first goal - hopefully that will be the first of many. Went into cruise control a little in the second half, but Southampton still posed little threat. A tough few games coming up, but if we can play like we have been at spells this season, then who knows what is possible.

Mark: Outstanding Cherries, still pinch myself we are Premier League, but we now look a quality, established team in one of the best leagues in the word. Southampton looked terrible. The gap from Championship to Premier League is getting bigger, as is the gap between us and Southampton now. Top 10 this year for the Cherries. Saints will be lucky to get 10 points!

Clive: It could have been more but we will take that. Evanilson's acceleration over a few yards is astonishing. Playing to his strengths will see him score more goals. Onwards and upwards, and we might scare Arsenal and Manchester City in the home games to come.

Ethan: Amazing.

Dan George
BBC Sport journalist

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Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook said he knew team-mate Antoine Semenyo could go to "another level" after his performances last season.

The winger scored in the Cherries' 3-1 victory over Southampton on Monday, his third in the Premier League this campaign.

"As a team, we knew the quality he has and we saw that last year. He's got to just keep working hard - being aggressive and being clinical," said Cook.

"He's got a lot better at running back and helping out the team too. He's a powerful lad and has all the ability in the world. Hopefully he can continue to show that."

All the hard work was done in the first half for Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth, who went into the break three goals to the good.

Cook thought he had scored his side's second in the game when his shot was deflected into the back of the net but it turned out his effort had gone in off team-mate Dango Ouattara.

Cook scored in Bournemouth's 3-2 win over Everton in August and picked up two assists in Monday's game.

"This season I've realised I’ve got more of a licence to make the box when the other midfielder is deeper," Cook added.

"It's something I’ve not really thought about in past seasons and I feel I get there and make a difference.

"I'm trying to be more consistent. I'm still finding my way and rhythm but I just need to build on each performance."

Did you know?

• Semenyo has had a hand in 10 goals in his past 20 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth (eight goals, two assists).

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Bournemouth assistant coach Tommy Elphick spoke about goalscorer Evanilson after Monday's victory over Southampton: "When you come with such a price tag and you're trying to fill the boots of someone who's served the club so well, there's always pressure with that.

"But there's no surprise to us. There's been a little bit of noise outside, but the way he's been training, what we've seen daily, it's not a surprise that he's got the type of goal that he's got.

"It's a [team] performance that's been coming. The first 45 minutes was electric from our point of view."

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

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Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo scored one first-half goal and played a big part in creating another to help his side to a convincing 3-1 home victory.

He has now had a hand in 10 goals in 20 Premier League appearances (eight goals and two assists) and his speed and trickery was simply too much for a porous Southampton defence to cope with on Monday evening.

The Ghana international was a threat throughout and tormented Saints left-back Charlie Taylor in the build-up to the Cherries second.

He then scored the goal that his industry deserved - twisting several opposition players inside out before dispatching a right-foot shot into the far corner.

With explosive pace, tight control and match-winning capabilities, the £10m fee the paid to Bristol City in January 2023 for his services looks an increasingly shrewd bit of business.

Should he deliver more performances of this nature he is likely to attract plenty of other admirers.