Bournemouth

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth have found a way to end their rotten winless period by now winning two of their past three games, against a couple of the so-called 'big six' in Tottenham and Liverpool.

So, can Andoni Iraloa's men have a better second half of the season than the first?

It's something they rarely do, and something that Iraola has in fact never managed as a head coach. While he struggled for a win after his arrival on the south coast in 2023, the Cherries still managed 25 points in the first half of that season, with only 23 in the second.

Their last campaign also saw a slight drop-off at the turn of the year, as, despite managing an impressive 30 points at the halfway stage, garnering 26 in the second half meant that Bournemouth fans had to say goodbye to any European hopes.

The difference may only seem minimal, but maybe Iraola's high-energy and aggressive approach is always likely to result in fatigue, injuries and an inevitable drop off?

It's certainly a theme that the gaffer would like to put an end to, with all three of his seasons at Rayo Vallecano also showing the same patterns, as did his short spells with Mirandes and AEK Larnaca respectively.

Compounding this issue is the big loss of our top scorer and key man Antoine Semenyo this month, so you would be fair in thinking it could well repeat itself.

But, Cherries fans may want to think twice this time around as, despite Antoine's departure, the club have recruited and look set to sign more this window, plus will be hopeful that some crucial players return from injury.

Ending this particular narrative may be a challenge, but it's certainly one that both Andoni and Bournemouth will fancy themselves achieving.

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

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

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Nigel: The Cherries had to dig deep for that win. They seem to find something extra when the chips are down - injuries and player departures working against them. The fact that Andoni Iraola chose to bring on a striker in the last few minutes, when most managers would try and protect the draw, sums up the ethos of this team.

Malcolm: This result has been coming. Recent performances have been solid and decided by fine margins. We don't complain about injuries, we just get on with the job with what we have. A brilliant team performance to a man. Happy days!

Mark: Absolutely superb siege mentally and some outstanding performers bearing in mind we have eight first team players out injured. Never say die attitude and the passion to play for the team and manager stands out.

Clive: A brilliant performance by an under strength team that never give up. Players like James Hill and Alex Jimenez have shone when called in and Smudge played a good 90 minutes.

Charl: Super performance from the whole team. Marcos Senesi was outstanding, alongside Adrien Truffert and Lewis Cook. We still wasted too many chances, and our corners need a total rethink, but we played without fear. Excellent so more of that please.

Liverpool fans

Tim: We are a bang average side, which even the most loyal fan must admit. Even the mighty Virgil van Dijk is showing his weaknesses. Without Hugo Ekitike up front we look toothless. He looks some player, though. Credit to Bournemouth for going for the win. After all that money we spent it is a case of going backwards to go forwards, but we need Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk replacements.

Simon: Same old, same old. Lots of possession but little end product. I don't understand why Salah never gets substituted when he's doing nothing? I can't see us finishing top four unless there's a massive improvement.

Anthony: Liverpool looked leggy and predictable. Slow in build-up and no willing runners into the box. Just a poor all round performance. Talk of tired players from a manager that consistently plays the same players is ironic. The board now either backs the manager to save the season in the cups, or pulls the trigger and replaces him (which I don't think should happen).

Mo: Poor defending again and little penetration from the forwards. Where has Salah's eye for goal gone? First half, he is in an ideal position to score by racing towards goal but he passes into the crowd of defenders. Afterwards, it's just excuses from Slot and Virgil. Playing like this we will be lucky to qualify for Champions League.

Darren: It's been the same story all season. Look at the stats - every game the other team covers more ground and works harder! And they are conceding soft goal after soft goal. If nothing is changing then Slot is responsible for that and needs to go now!

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth winger Amine Adli said scoring the 95th minute winner against Liverpool "was just magic" because of the "sensational" celebrations that followed with the fans.

After a goalmouth scramble, Adli's finish sent the home fans wild despite it being checked by video assistant referee (VAR) for a possible foul in the build-up.

Once it was cleared, goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic ran to the sidelines to celebrate with the dugout and there was delirium all around the Vitality Stadium.

"I'm very happy," Adli told BBC Radio Solent. "I play football for moments like this.

"I'm a very emotional player on the pitch and I always give 100 per cent, so I like seeing other people happy around me.

"I just tried to kick the ball into the goal, I don't know where I was trying to even shoot! It was so tight [the angle] and the ball was bouncing everywhere.

"I could see it was going in and then it was just a celebration for us because everyone was so happy. It was just magic.

"The crowd wanted to come on the pitch! It was just amazing, this is why I play football. Sensational.

"The three points are massive for where we are in the table and hopefully, it can be a switch for our season that allows us to get more confidence."

Listen to Adli's full interview on BBC Sounds

Bournemouth are close to completing the signing of Vasco da Gama's Brazilian forward Rayan, 19, on a permanent deal. (Athletic), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pundits Alan Shearer and Ashley Williams join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Manchester City 2-0 Wolves

• Burnley 2-2 Tottenham

• Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool

Still not over Saturday's stoppage-time winner?

Listen to the latest episode of the Cherries Unpicked podcast as they react to Bournemouth's 3-2 win against Liverpool in the Premier League.

Listen to the full episode here

Explore all Bournemouth content on BBC Sounds

Aadam Patel
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola's squad has been decimated by injuries, while the loss of Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City in the middle of the season is a huge blow.

But in wet and windy conditions they played fearlessly and were rewarded for their attacking endeavour in the first half against Liverpool as they took a two-goal lead.

The hosts were perhaps guilty of sitting back in the second half as they tried to protect their 2-1 lead, but could hardly be blamed, given Liverpool's recent struggles against a low block.

Yet they went hunting for a winner after Dominik Szoboszlai levelled, with Ryan Christie forcing Alisson to make a top save before Evanilson fired his effort wide.

It felt as if neither side was content with a point and the scenes that followed Amine Adli's last-gasp winner will live long in the memory of the Bournemouth fans who were here.

Djordje Petrovic ran to the sidelines to celebrate with the dugout and there was delirium all around the Vitality Stadium.

It was only the second win in their past 15 games - and one Iraola's side wholly deserved.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's victory against Liverpool: "It is a massive win for us because we were in a difficult situation especially last week in terms of numbers wise and in defensive players.

"We are finding ways to get points against difficult opposition. I am very proud of the team and what we are doing. We are adapting and we are getting good points."

On Liverpool getting a goal just before half-time: "That is when you don't want to concede. We wanted to go into the dressing room 2-0 up. It was a good goal from [Virgil] Van Dijk and we knew we were going to have to push with everything they have done it and we conceded two set plays.

"But from the 2-2 we started playing better and we felt that we didn't have anything to lose."

On if he thought the game wasn't going to be an open game: "No I think the game was Liverpool, Bournemouth and it was going to be open.

"I think it is a win that we needed. We are now in 30 points, we need the points and we need them as soon as possible. We are still in relegation situation so we still have to fight and go for points."

Did you know?

• Bournemouth have scored two or more goals in 13 of their Premier League games this season - the joint-most of any side in the competition this term, along with Manchester City.

• The Cherries have won two of their last three league games (D1), as many as their previous 16 beforehand (W2 D7 L7).

Listen to Iraola on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Bournemouth make one change from their 1-1 draw with Brighton. Adam Smith replaces Marcus Tavernier who is out with a hamstring injury.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Jimenez, Scott, Cook; Kroupi, Adli; Evanilson.

Subs: Forster, Christie, Diakite, Unal, Toth, Milosavljevic, Sadi, Rees-Dottin, DaCosta.

Arne Slot also makes one change from the Liverpool side that won in Marseille midweek with Cody Gakpo coming in for Hugo Ekitike.

Joe Gomez is making his first Premier League start at centre-back since December, 2024 against West Ham.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo, Salah.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Jones, Ekitike, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha.

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• West Ham v Sunderland (12:30)

• Burnley v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Brighton

• Man City v Wolves - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Bournemouth v Liverpool (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Manchester City v Wolves" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Bournemouth v Liverpool", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Liverpool played really well against Marseille on Wednesday but I have a feeling they will find this game a lot more difficult.

Mind you, Bournemouth are a nightmare to predict this season so, whatever I say here, the opposite is likely to happen.

I have changed my mind a few times about this one - I started with a 1-1 draw, then went 2-1 to Bournemouth... but then I saw Liverpool have won on their past three visits here and a repeat result is what I have talked myself into in the end.

It should be a great game, though, whatever the outcome.

The Cherries are brilliantly strange, and I always think they have a goal in them - they will score here and have a real go at Liverpool, but I don't think they will quite get over the line.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth continue to battle a lengthy injury list as they prepare to host a Liverpool side who have beaten them in 12 of the past 13 league meetings.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of their encounter at the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth battling injuries

Bournemouth are slowly beginning to turn a corner after a torrid first half of the season although they next face a Liverpool side against whom they have a wretched record in the Premier League era.

The Cherries have picked up four points in their two most recent league outings, which is as many as they earned in the previous eight.

But Bournemouth have lost 12 of the past 13 meetings with Liverpool, while the south coast side have conceded 52 goals in the 17 Premier League encounters overall – their joint-highest tally against any team in the competition, along with Manchester City.

The biggest issues undermining Andoni Iraola's team, however, are a tendency to concede goals and throw away winning positions.

They have let in a league-high 30 goals since the start of November – a failing exacerbated by Bournemouth's lengthy injury list – and also dropped the most points (18) from winning positions this season.

The Cherries are currently missing eight players – the most of any Premier League team – whilst also continuing to adjust following the sale of star forward Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City earlier this month.

Bournemouth have been boosted by the signing of 20-year-old Ferencvaros midfielder Alex Toth although they have lost Marcus Tavernier to a potentially serious hamstring injury, joining David Brooks, Julio Soler, Enes Unal, Ben Gannon-Doak, Tyler Adams, Justin Kluivert and Will Dennis in the treatment room.

"I like to play with the ball at my feet… I'm energetic, I run everywhere," is how Toth describes his style of play and he may yet be joined by more fresh legs, with Bournemouth reportedly closing in on a move for teenage Vasco da Gama striker Rayan.

Iraola, though, had to name four development squad players on the bench at Brighton last weekend and he may well rely on a similar squad to face Liverpool.

Liverpool looking for first league win of 2026

Liverpool continue to manage injury issues of their own, albeit in much lower volume, with Conor Bradley and Alexander Isak sidelined, but they did welcome back forward Mohamed Salah from the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this week.

The Egypt international immediately returned to the starting line-up in the 3-0 Champions League win at Marseille on Wednesday night and the 33-year-old must now surely be under consideration for a first league start since his public spat with Liverpool boss Arne Slot in December.

Whatever the line-up, Slot and Liverpool will be solely focused on earning a first Premier League win of 2026. The Reds are unbeaten in their past 10 league games, the longest current run of any side, although they have drawn all four since the turn of the year.

In top-flight history, only two teams have had a longer run of consecutive draws from the start of a calendar year, while Liverpool have not drawn five league games in a row at any point of the season since 1980.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Liverpool at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "I think it's not the worst of the hamstring injuries, but it's still a muscle injury for Marcus Tavernier. Enes [Unal] didn't want to be out again, and he also sees the needs of the team, and if he's ready to give us something tomorrow, obviously we'll be very welcome."

• On new signing Alex Toth: "Yes, he is definitely available. Probably in other situations, we will allow him a bit more time to train and explain the situation, but with the situation we find ourselves in now, he has to be ready. And he looks like a nice boy, and I hope he helps us as soon as possible. It's difficult, sometimes it is a bit too rushed but he will be available tomorrow and ready to help us."

• Iraola said Toth is available to start the game, adding: "He comes in good physical condition and he is ready. He has only been for one or two three days so it will be difficult for him to understand what we are trying to do. And I hope he does well."

• Iraola believes that Toth is a "number eight" but will have to do "things of a number 6, you have to do things of a number 10, and I think we will use him like with other players".

• On more signings such as Brazilian Rayan: "Alex [Toth] is the only signing we have made for this weekend. But obviously, the club is working; they know we need more signings, and for other signings, we have to wait. He [Rayan] is a player that is not ours, so I cannot talk about it. We have a lot of interest in players, and we have to wait and see the signings we can make. Our situation is very difficult, we are thin, especially in the offensive positions, especially in the wings."

• Iraola expanded a bit more on that and suggested that he hopes more signings will be made and "the club is working on it".

• On Liverpool: "I think it's the only club we have where I've never got a point against them. It's already two seasons and a half. So I want to take that one. I know it's not easy."

Hear more from Iraola on BBC Sounds

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

Listen on commentary of Bournemouth v Liverpool at 17:30 on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Planning permission has been granted for Bournemouth to modernise the Vitality Stadium.

Infrastructure and the matchday experience will be boosted by the approval granted by the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

The approved works include a new perimeter fence and turnstiles, revisions to pedestrian and cycle routes, a new outside broadcast area and the enclosure of the West Stand terraces.

In addition to enhanced safety and accessibility, the works are the foundation for future phases of the club's redevelopment plans.

"This is an exciting and important moment for the club," said Cherries owner Bill Foley.

"Our proposed new stadium reflects not only our ambition on the pitch, but also our commitment to investing in the community.

"The project will deliver long-term benefits for supporters, local residents, and the wider region beyond the BCP area."

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

From the Premier League's elite to the soggy pitches of Sunday league, injuries are part and parcel of football - but which top-flight teams have been worst affected so far this season?

With help from injury expert Ben Dinnery, of premierinjuries.com,, external BBC Sport has examined which sides have been hit the hardest, the impact injuries can have on under-fire managers - and whether things are always as bad as they seem.

• Read more detail on how clubs have been affected by injuries here

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

"I like to play with the ball at my feet… I'm energetic, I run everywhere."

That was how Alex Toth described his own style of play after signing for Bournemouth from Ferencvaros on Tuesday, which will be music to boss Andoni Iraola's ears as he seeks new blood for his injury-ravaged squad.

Four more Cherries players have joined the lengthening list of walking wounded, with David Brooks, Julio Soler and Enes Unal all missing Monday's 1-1 draw at Brighton after starting the draining FA Cup epic at Newcastle the previous weekend – while Marcus Tavernier came off against the Seagulls with a hamstring problem that looks likely to keep him out for a spell.

That quartet join Ben Gannon-Doak, Tyler Adams, Justin Kluivert and Will Dennis in the treatment room.

Iraola had to name four development squad players, with a total of two Premier League appearances (both 89th-minute substitute cameos) between them, on the bench at Brighton and the situation does not look like improving before the Cherries host Liverpool on Saturday, unless more new signings can follow Hungary midfielder Toth through the front door before then.

While an entertaining, high-energy pressing style has been a hallmark of Iraola's Cherries, its physical demands also take a toll on players.

"They do need help," ex-Bournemouth midfielder Joe Partington told BBC Radio Solent's Cherries Unpicked podcast after the Brighton game.

"They were completely out on their feet. Those players weren't wasting time, it wasn't like when we saw Arsenal walking to [take] corners a couple of weeks ago.

"They were cramping up, and [the numbers] look even lighter than they were before the game, which is concerning."

Iraola's post-match comments also suggested that while players in general might usually be wary of new signings who could challenge them for their place, his beleaguered squad had accepted that reinforcements were needed.

Willingness to "run everywhere", as Toth put it, would seem to be the key.

Listen to debate on squad depth on Cherries: Unpicked

Sometimes, in this age of playing through the lines and technical proficiency, there remains a time when you just have to put your foot (or head) through it.

There are those defenders fans (and players) rely on to do just that.

Step forward Joachim Andersen and Virgil van Dijk, who stand in the way of attacks and take no nonsense, sending it away with head, foot or body in the name of getting the job done.

The two top the charts for successful clearances this season, with shoutouts going to a supporting cast of proper defenders.

Image source, PA Media

Former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington believes the Cherries face a wait to resolve the "really concerning" condition of their squad.

Substituted in the second half with a hamstring issue, Marcus Tavernier became the latest injury concern for Andoni Iraola to contend with against Brighton on Monday.

After a triple Brighton substitution exposed the Cherries' fatigue, Partington insisted that the need for reinforcements is urgent - however, he added that the market in January is not straightforward.

"Bournemouth now look even lighter than they were before the game, which is really concerning," Partington told BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked podcast.

"January is such a difficult window. Teams know that Bournemouth are in position now which is somewhat desperate - they desperately need players - so they can now hold a bit of a harder bargain and probably get more money for players.

"Do you try to sign a player to be a number or to give you the ability to make a change, but you're not 100% certain they add value to team? Or are you waiting for the players that you believe are going to have a real impact for you?

"If it's the latter, then it will go on as long as the window lasts, because it's only really in the last moment when things get done desperately, and clubs who are selling will wait for those moments to get the best deals."

Listen to the full episode of Cherries: Unpicked here

Explore all Bournemouth content on BBC Sounds

Bournemouth plan to resist any bids for Marcos Senesi this month, with Chelsea, Juventus and Barcelona among clubs targeting the centre-back. (Talksport), external

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

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